Overview
- FIFA has mandated hybrid natural‑grass pitches for every match and teams are now installing and testing those surfaces across the 16 host stadiums.
- The program uses two main systems: Bermuda blends for warm outdoor sites and a cool‑season Kentucky bluegrass/rye mix for low‑light or roofed stadiums.
- Deliveries and stadium work include specialized sod grown on plastic, refrigerated transport, ceiling or wheeled grow‑light rigs, seat removals and new subsurface irrigation and ventilation.
- Pitches are reinforced with synthetic fibers stitched into the root zone to improve durability and crews will run standardized tests on ball roll, impact and moisture to certify each field.
- Reports that FIFA committed $3.8 billion to the effort appeared in recent coverage but that total relies on a single, limited source and has not been widely corroborated; cost, permanence and post‑World Cup venue plans remain open questions.