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NRG Stadium will host four major soccer matches this summer, a preview of what’s to come when it hosts seven games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
NRG Stadium is preparing to host its busiest summer of soccer since it first opened, with four total matches over the course of a month and a half.
The venue, home to the Houston Texans and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, will host three matches for the CONMEBOL Copa America tournament and one match for the MLS’ Leagues Cup — including a matchup between Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami CF and Club Tigres. With four international matches in a short timespan, this summer’s events will provide an example of what’s to come in two years when the 2026 FIFA World Cup brings seven total matches to NRG Stadium.
“We’re looking forward to making the most out of (this summer) as we lead towards the ultimate event opportunity with the FIFA World Cup in 2026,” said David Fletcher, general manager of Lone Star Sports and Entertainment, an arm of the Texans that helps bid for and host major events. “It gives us an opportunity to continue to reinforce the story of why Houston is one of the best destinations for major events in the country, why we are a global city and why these events matter.”
Shell Energy Stadium will host an additional three matches for the second year of the Leagues Cup — a World Cup-style tournament between the 47 clubs in MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX — bringing the total number of games in Houston to seven over the course of about two months. The city will also host a free fan festival in conjunction with the Copa America tournament at Discovery Green downtown.
Hosting this summer’s events is the culmination of years of effort, going back to the 2002 opening of NRG Stadium, which was Reliant Stadium at the time, to host a number of events beyond football and RodeoHouston, Fletcher said. The idea for the venue was to be able to serve the Houston community year-round with major sporting events, including international soccer.
The stadium has given the city the opportunity to become an international destination for soccer, as evidenced by this summer’s packed schedule and the World Cup coming in two years, Fletcher said.
“The stadium allows us the opportunity, and the market — being centrally located, the gateway to Latin America and the biggest market in the South — gives us a lot of ingredients for success when it comes to international soccer,” Fletcher said. “When you look at soccer, we’ve become a destination for the sport, and one that truly is seen as a place where the industry can do business.”
Houston is hosting both the Copa America and Leagues Cup tournaments for the second time. However, the former has been around for more than 100 years, while the latter is a new venture. Fletcher described the Leagues Cup as “one of the most important initiatives that the MLS has invested in as a league,” and Houston is well positioned to play an integral role as that tournament continues to grow.
Hosting this summer’s matches at NRG Stadium and Shell Energy Stadium requires significant collaboration between multiple stakeholders, including Houston Dynamo FC, Harris County Houston Sports Authority and others. That collaboration will be key as the city prepares for the World Cup in two years.
“From the pro teams to our venue partners, to Houston’s civic and corporate leaders, as well as our community of vendors and volunteers, they all contribute to our city’s success,” HCHSA Vice President Chris Massey said in a statement. “Copa America is no exception, as we work in partnership with LSSE to bid on, plan and promote those matches for our market.”
Massey added: ”Houston continues to be a focal point for international soccer in our country, with that lens only magnifying as we draw closer to 2026.”
This summer’s events are expected to generate millions of dollars of economic impact, as well. Copa America is expected to bring in between $25 million and $30 million in economic impact, Tigres’ two matches at NRG Stadium and Shell Energy Stadium as part of Leagues Cup are expected to generate $16.5 million in direct impact, and the Dynamo’s two other Leagues Cup matches could bring another $1 million to $5 million each.
Fletcher said there will be more major soccer matches coming to Houston in 2025, but this year’s lineup looks most closely like what is to come in 2026, providing a test run for everyone involved in hosting these events.
“We’ve earned these opportunities,” Fletcher said. “With World Cup on the horizon, there are more opportunities than ever to bring major international soccer to this community.”
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