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FIFA taps in UT turfgrass experts for World Cup 26

49.2770° N -123.1119° W

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

BC Place Vancouver

Replacing an artificial turf surface, sod for the stadium was grown on plastic at a sod farm and installed in the stadium over 20 centimeters of sand with a drainage layer and a system that can bring water in and pull it out of the turfgrass.

See how the turf system works

Capacity: 54,000
Roof: Domed
Grass: Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass mixture with hybrid reinforced fibers
Sod origin: Bos Sod Farms, British Columbia

Wide view of players on a soccer pitch and a crowd of spectators in the stands inside a domed stadium.

Night view of a stadium lit in blue and surrounded by the lights of a city skyline, all reflected in a body of water in the foreground.

43.6336° N -79.4186° W

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto Stadium

Pitch managers renovated the playing surface by installing a new root zone and reinforcing the natural grass with 65 millimeters of synthetic fiber. Due to Toronto’s colder climate, the stadium employs grow lights and an underground heating system to maintain the playing surface.

See how the turf system works

Capacity: 45,000
Roof: Canopy roof
Grass: Kentucky bluegrass, hybrid reinforced fibers
Sod origin: Greenhorizons Sod Farms, Ontario

Night view of a football field inside an open stadium with a crowd of spectators in the covered stands.

19.3025° N -99.1610° W

Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City Stadium

For the first time ever, the stadium converted to a cool-season grass in preparation for FIFA World Cup 26. Previously, it used kikuyu grass, which is native to Kenya. The new grass is appropriate for the average highs and lows of Mexico City.

See how the turf system works

Capacity: 83,000
Roof: Canopy roof
Grass: Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass mixture with hybrid reinforced fibers
Sod origin: Seeded at the stadium in December 2025

Aerial view of an empty oval open-air stadium with a dense urban area behind it and a city skyline in the background.

Wide view of players on a soccer pitch inside a stadium with a sparse crowd of spectators seated in covered stands.

20.6821° N -103.4626° W

Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico

Estadio Guadalajara

Estadio Guadalajara stands out for its construction—built on raised ground with a coliseum-like design—and its pitch is also unique. Underneath the turfgrass, along with 30 centimeters of sand and a gravel layer, are drain lines that act like a bathtub. They can be closed to prevent water from draining away, and they can fill up to irrigate from below. Water can also be pumped in or vacuumed out to ensure the right amount of moisture for the pitch.

See how the turf system works

Capacity: 48,000
Roof: Open air with overhangs for shade
Grass: Bermudagrass, hybrid reinforced fibers
Sod origin: Pasto Santa Cruz, Mexico

Wide view of an empty soccer pitch inside a stadium with a sparse crowd of spectators in covered stands.

25.6694° N -100.2444° W

Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon, Mexico

Estadio Monterrey

Though the stadium has historically used bermudagrass, a pitch installed in 2025 uses a different variety of bermudagrass, researched by UT experts, that is stitched and reinforced with synthetic fibers. One challenge of the stadium is that the overhangs provided for spectator comfort create a lot of shade patterns, making the use of grow lights necessary even in summer.

See how the turf system works

Capacity: 53,500
Roof: Open air with overhangs for shade
Grass: Bermudagrass, hybrid reinforced fibers
Sod origin: Pasto Santa Cruz, Mexico

Aerial view of an empty partially domed oval stadium with buildings and a body of water in the background.

Wide view of a soccer pitch inside a stadium with a sparse crowd of spectators in covered stands.

Three people walk on a turf surface inside a partially covered stadium with empty stands behind them.

33.7556° N -84.4008° W

Atlanta, Georgia,
United States

Atlanta Stadium

UT researchers devised a temporary build to cover the stadium’s usual synthetic turf. Aluminum flooring covers the turf and serves as the base for a drainage layer of gravel, an irrigation system, and 20 centimeters of sand. A refrigerated truck transported the sod in rolls that were stitched together inside the stadium. This domed venue will be used for a large number of matches, so grow lights are necessary to keep the turfgrass healthy for a longer period of time.

See how the turf system works

Capacity: 75,000
Roof: Retractable dome
Grass: Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass mixture with hybrid reinforced fibers
Sod origin: Green Valley Sod, Colorado

Red and black bleachers surround a rectangular field of sand framed by green turfgrass inside a large domed stadium.

Two pieces of heavy equipment, one red and one yellow, move and smooth sand on the black floor inside a stadium.

A man drives a machine that unrolls sod onto a field of sand while two workers help guide the machine. They are inside a stadium with red bleachers and other workers behind them.

Rows of large white light rigs on wheels cover a grass pitch inside a domed stadium.

A cross-section of natural grass sod on black fabric with empty stadium stands in the background.

42.0909° -71.2642° W

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Boston Stadium

Originally a natural turfgrass stadium, Boston Stadium changed to synthetic turf in 2006 but returned to natural turfgrass for FIFA World Cup 26. The synthetic turf was stripped down to the original layer of sand, which is the foundation for the hybrid-reinforced natural grass. Grow lights are on hand as a backup due to shade patterns made by spectator stands.

See how the turf system works

Capacity: 65,000
Roof: Open air
Grass: Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass mixture with hybrid reinforced fibers
Sod origin: Tuckahoe Turf Farms, New Jersey

Side aerial view of an empty open-air stadium with a soccer pitch at the center.

32.7483° N -97.0933° W

Arlington, Texas, United States

Dallas Stadium

The existing artificial turf was stripped down to the concrete floor to prepare for the installation of natural grass in the stadium. A layer of gravel helps with drainage, and 20 centimeters of sand form the base for the hybrid reinforced sod. Unlike most tournament venues, Dallas Stadium’s grow lights hang from the ceiling instead of being rolled out onto the pitch on rigs.

See how the turf system works

Capacity: 94,000
Roof: Dome
Grass: Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass mixture with hybrid reinforced fibers
Sod origin: Green Valley Sod, Colorado

Exterior of a domed stadium behind a tree-lined street and streetlight.

View from the stands of a partially domed stadium with a football field at the center with players and a sparse crowd of spectators in the stands.

29.6851° N -95.4106° W

Houston, Texas, United States

Houston Stadium

The stadium is unique for its irrigation and drainage systems, which are built into the concrete floor that was originally constructed to accommodate modular synthetic turf systems. The replacement of its synthetic turf necessitated a layer of permavoid—high-strength modular plastic cells used for drainage—and the field was built up with a geotextile fabric and sand.

See how the turf system works

Capacity: 72,000
Roof: Retractable
Grass: Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass mixture with hybrid reinforced fibers
Sod origin: Green Valley Sod, Colorado

Interior of a domed stadium with players on a soccer pitch and a crowd of spectators the stands.

Exterior of a brightly lit domed stadium at night with cars in the parking lot and the words “nrg stadium” on the front of the building.

39.0492° N -94.4839° W

Kansas City, Missouri, United States

Kansas City Stadium

The stadium’s playing surface was expanded to meet FIFA’s criteria for pitches, which is 344 feet by 223 feet. For FIFA World Cup 26, the synthetic turf was replaced with a gravel layer, a vacuum ventilation system, 30 centimeters of sand, and sod made of bermudagrass. The sod will be shallowly stitched so it can be easily removed for the NFL season.

See how the turf system works

Capacity: 73,000
Roof: Open air
Grass: Bermudagrass, hybrid reinforced fibers
Sod origin: Carolina Green, North Carolina

Aerial view of an empty open-air stadium with a football field in the center.

View from the stands of a football field in an open-air stadium with players on the field and a sparse crowd of spectators in the stands.

33.9536° N -118.3389° W

Inglewood, California, United States

Los Angeles Stadium

The pitch synthetic turf pitch was covered with concert flooring to prepare for installation of natural turfgrass. To improve the spectators’ view, a 15-inch layer of permavoid (high-strength modular plastic cells used for drainage) was added to the floor along with a geotextile fabric and 20 centimeters of sand.

See how the turf system works

Capacity: 70,000
Roof: Fixed translucent
Grass: Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass mixture with hybrid reinforced fibers
Sod origin: Desert Green Sod, Washington

Aerial view of a domed stadium with cars parked around it.

View from the stands of an empty football field at the center of an open-air stadium.

Exterior of a stadium with a body of water and a covered plaza with trees and the words “SoFi Stadium” in the foreground.

25.9579° N -80.2389° W

Miami Gardens, Florida, United States

Miami Stadium

Even though the stadium is in sunny Florida, grow lights are used to help combat the shade from the canopies above the spectator stands as well as the periods of rain that are common in Miami’s tropical climate. Unlike that in any of the other stadiums, the sod for Miami comes from its very own sod farm.

See how the turf system works

Capacity: 65,000
Roof: Open air with partial canopy
Grass: Bermudagrass, hybrid reinforced fibers
Sod origin: South Florida Sod

View from the empty stands of a partially covered stadium with a turfgrass field in the center and machines on the field.

A man in a purple shirt, with a green machine and empty stands behind him, rakes grass inside a stadium.

Side view of a machine with layers of numbered green rods holding rows of green synthetic fibers.

A man in a purple shirt works with a machine on the field of a partially covered stadium with empty stands around him.

Aerial view of four people and three green machines with white tops on a field of turfgrass.

40.8136° N -74.0744° W

East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States

New York New Jersey Stadium

A temporary pitch was laid over the artificial turf of the stadium, which will host the FIFA World Cup 26 championship match. Before the natural grass pitch was laid on a foundation of aluminum concert flooring, gravel, and sand, more than 1,700 seats were removed to widen the field and make it compliant with FIFA’s size requirements.

See how the turf system works

Capacity: 82,500
Roof: Open air
Grass: Bermudagrass, hybrid reinforced fibers
Sod origin: Tuckahoe Turf Farms, New Jersey

View from the stands of a soccer pitch in an open-air stadium with players on the field and a crowd of spectators in the stands.

Aerial view of an empty open-air stadium with a football field in the center and parking lots around it. A sign at the front of the structure reads “METLIFE STADIUM.”

39.9015° N -75.1675° W

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Philadelphia Stadium

The stadium will play host to a match on July 4, 2026—the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence at Philadelphia’s Independence Hall,just five miles from the stadium. The pitch was installed over a foundation of gravel and 30 centimeters of sand. Grow lights will help the stadium maintain uniformity throughout the six matches scheduled for play.

See how the turf system works

Capacity: 69,000
Roof: Open air
Grass: Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass mixture with hybrid reinforced fibers
Sod origin: Tuckahoe Turf Farms, New Jersey

A view from the stands of an empty open-air stadium with a field of sand in the center and a blue sky with clouds above.

Aerial view of an empty open-air stadium surrounded by parking lots and an urban area.

Three men walk on the gray flooring of an open-air stadium with empty stands behind them.

37.4035° N -121.9692° W

Santa Clara, California, United States

San Francisco Bay Area Stadium

The natural grass turf is reinforced with synthetic fibers to stabilize the pitch and help it perform consistently across six matches. The fibers were installed with a shallow stitch, enabling the sod to be removed easily at the end of the tournament and a new surface to be installed for the NFL season.

See how the turf system works

Capacity: 71,000
Roof: Open air
Grass: Bermudagrass, hybrid reinforced fibers
Sod origin: West Coast Turf, California

Panoramic view from the empty stands of an open-air stadium with a football field at the center.

47.5953° N -122.3316° W

Seattle, Washington, United States

Seattle Stadium

To cover the stadium’s synthetic turf for FIFA World Cup 26 matches, aluminum concert flooring was placed over the original turf, with a drainage layer of gravel, 20 centimeters of sand, and a system that can bring water in and pull it out. The weather in Seattle in June and July is great for the growth of grass, with less rain and longer days.

See how the turf system works

Capacity: 69,000
Roof: Open air with partial canopy
Grass: Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass mixture with hybrid reinforced fibers
Sod origin: Washington

View from the stands of a soccer pitch in a partially covered stadium with players on the field, spectators in the stands, and a city view in the background.

Aerial view of a partially covered stadium surrounded by an urban area.

19.4326° N 99.
1332° W

Atlanta, Georgia,
United States

Atlanta Stadium

UT researchers devised a temporary build to cover the stadium’s usual synthetic turf. Aluminum flooring covers the turf and serves as the base for a drainage layer of gravel, an irrigation system, and 20 centimeters of sand. A refrigerated truck transported the sod in rolls that were stitched together inside the stadium. This domed venue will be used for a large number of matches, so grow lights are necessary to keep the turfgrass healthy for a longer period of time.

Capacity: 75,000
Roof: Retractable dome
Grass: Kentucky bluegrass, hybrid reinforced fibers
Sod origin: Green Valley Sod, Colorado

19.4326° N 99.
1332° W

Atlanta, Georgia,
United States

Atlanta Stadium

UT researchers devised a temporary build to cover the stadium’s usual synthetic turf. Aluminum flooring covers the turf and serves as the base for a drainage layer of gravel, an irrigation system, and 20 centimeters of sand. A refrigerated truck transported the sod in rolls that were stitched together inside the stadium. This domed venue will be used for a large number of matches, so grow lights are necessary to keep the turfgrass healthy for a longer period of time.

Capacity: 75,000
Roof: Retractable dome
Grass: Kentucky bluegrass, hybrid reinforced fibers
Sod origin: Green Valley Sod, Colorado

19.4326° N 99.
1332° W

Atlanta, Georgia,
United States

Atlanta Stadium

UT researchers devised a temporary build to cover the stadium’s usual synthetic turf. Aluminum flooring covers the turf and serves as the base for a drainage layer of gravel, an irrigation system, and 20 centimeters of sand. A refrigerated truck transported the sod in rolls that were stitched together inside the stadium. This domed venue will be used for a large number of matches, so grow lights are necessary to keep the turfgrass healthy for a longer period of time.

Capacity: 75,000
Roof: Retractable dome
Grass: Kentucky bluegrass, hybrid reinforced fibers
Sod origin: Green Valley Sod, Colorado

See how the turf system works

How UT is developing and growing turf for FIFA World Cup 26

Both turfgrass systems

Sod

Sod is the top layer of both turfgrass systems. The turf itself is bermudagrass (for warmer climates) or a mix of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass (for cooler climates).

A method known as hybrid stitching provides additional stability by reinforcing the pitch with fibers. The rod method of stitching, used for most outdoor stadiums and some indoor stadiums, injects reinforcing fibers into the soil as the grass grows. Some pitches for both domed and one outdoor stadium are grown using the carpet method, in which seeds are planted directly into a layer of fiber-reinforced soil, allowing the grass to grow into the stitching.

Image of rod stitching

Note: Graphic rendering of turf systems may not be to scale.

Both turfgrass systems

Sand rootzone

This middle layer allows for more consistent footing and surface firmness. It reduces compaction compared to native soil fields and supports healthier turfgrass growth by allowing for more air and water movement.

Note: Graphic rendering of turf systems may not be to scale.

Conventional rootzone system

Gravel

The gravel base layer allows for quick water drainage while retaining enough moisture to promote healthy root growth. Drainpipes move excess water away from the pitch.

Irrigation & drainage

All FIFA World Cup 26 stadiums are equipped with an in-ground irrigation system with sprinkler heads that can emerge and water the entire pitch. They also have a vacuum ventilation system to assist with water drainage.

Note: Graphic rendering of turf systems may not be to scale.

Shallow profile system

Geotextile

A plastic woven sheeting that rests on top of the permavoid, the geotextile layer prevents sand from filling the openings in the permavoid and helps regulate moisture by allowing excess water to pass through.

Permavoid

The base layer of the shallow profile system is a high-strength modular interlocking plastic structure that allows for adequate water drainage and can be more quickly removed than gravel when a pitch is temporary.

Irrigation & drainage

All FIFA World Cup 26 stadiums are equipped with an in-ground irrigation system with sprinkler heads that can emerge and water the entire pitch. They also have a vacuum ventilation system to assist with water drainage.

Note: Graphic rendering of turf systems may not be to scale.

Bringing UT’s Turfgrass Expertise to FIFA World Cup 26

Tackling turfgrass

What does it take to create the best pitches for FIFA World Cup 26™?

Explore the stadiums

Delve into the Pitch

Sod

Sand rootzone

Gravel

Irrigation & drainage

Geotextile

Permavoid

Irrigation & drainage

Taking on the challenge

In the news

President Infantino hails groundbreaking pitch innovation on Knoxville visit

One Year Out to the FIFA World Cup

Pitch Perfect: FIFA teams with turf gurus to create fields for Club World Cup, World Cup

Why Club World Cup and World Cup 2026 pitches should be better than those at Copa America

See University of Tennessee’s turfgrass research area for FIFA World Cup 26