The 2026 World Cup had a major challenge with grass: FIFA retrofit 16 stadiums in Canada, Mexico and US to keep fields consistent for 48 teams and 104 matches.

It asked grass scientists at U of Tennessee and to design solution:

▫️they made a modular hybrid turf (95% grass / 5% synthetic fiber) that is easily rollable, transportable and installable

▫️each field has 20 million synenthic fibers sewn into dirt (grassroots intertwine with fibers to prevent field from tearing)

▫️all 11 stadiums in US host NFL teams…7 of those had to do special conversion of astroturf fields (Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, LA, NY, Seattle)

▫️5 stadiums have a dome (eg. BC Place in Vancouver) and scientists developed special UV grow light machines to help maintain grass in those structures

▫️grass in Southern US and two Mexico locations (Monterrey, Guadalajara) need grass species for warm and humid temperatures (“Bermuda grass”)

▫️Northern US/Canada and Mexico City need grass for cooler climates (“Kentucky bluegrass”)

▫️scientists built special machines to test player foot impact and ball bouncing effect (reduce injuries and make sure ball movement consistent)

▫️grass sods we’re grown on plastic so they spread horizontally, making it easier to roll and transport

***

Interview with U Tennessee grass science expert Dr. John Sorochan (via PBS): https://youtu.be/21BEimIs2bY?si=MdQ5QQH4LgFdOGlh

The 2026 World Cup had a major challenge with grass: FIFA retrofit 16 stadiums in Canada, Mexico and US to keep fields consistent for 48 teams and 104 matches.

It asked grass scientists at U of Tennessee and to design solution:

▫️they made a modular hybrid turf (95% grass / 5% synthetic fiber) that is easily rollable, transportable and installable

▫️each field has 20 million synenthic fibers sewn into dirt (grassroots intertwine with fibers to prevent field from tearing)

▫️all 11 stadiums in US host NFL teams…7 of those had to do special conversion of astroturf fields (Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, LA, NY, Seattle)

▫️5 stadiums have a dome (eg. BC Place in Vancouver) and scientists developed special UV grow light machines to help maintain grass in those structures

▫️grass in Southern US and two Mexico locations (Monterrey, Guadalajara) need grass species for warm and humid temperatures (“Bermuda grass”)

▫️Northern US/Canada and Mexico City need grass for cooler climates (“Kentucky bluegrass”)

▫️scientists built special machines to test player foot impact and ball bouncing effect (reduce injuries and make sure ball movement consistent)

▫️grass sods we’re grown on plastic so they spread horizontally, making it easier to roll and transport

***

Interview with U Tennessee grass science expert Dr. John Sorochan (via PBS): https://youtu.be/21BEimIs2bY?si=MdQ5QQH4LgFdOGlh