The report says seats were removed last summer to create the required field width, while the new pitch is being installed over the stadium’s existing concrete base.
Key elements of the conversion include:
The aim is to create a surface that looks permanent, even though it is expected to be dismantled soon after Houston’s final World Cup fixture.
Houston’s summer heat adds another layer to the operation. The report says the stadium roof will remain closed, with the internal temperature adjusted to 22.2°C to protect the grass and maintain consistent playing conditions.
That matters for Portugal, whose technical players will expect a reliable surface for passing and movement. It also gives Ronaldo and his teammates a setting closer to a traditional football stadium than the venue’s regular NFL configuration.
The report says Houston is due to host seven matches between June 14 and July 4, including two knockout games. The pitch must therefore survive more than one high-profile test, with Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and other teams also scheduled to play in the city.
The first verdict will arrive when Portugal meet the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The quality of the temporary grass, and Ronaldo’s impact on it, will offer an early measure of whether Houston’s ambitious conversion has worked.