Overview
- Several NFL venues that normally use artificial turf have been fitted with FIFA-compliant natural grass this month for the 2026 World Cup and those surfaces are expected to be removed after the tournament.
- Players and the NFLPA have amplified calls for permanent grass, citing a union poll of about 1,700 players that found 92% prefer natural grass over turf.
- Research cited by coverage shows higher rates of non-contact lower-body injuries on turf, including a reported 32% increase in non-contact knee injuries and a 69% increase in non-contact foot and ankle injuries compared with grass.
- San Francisco 49ers pass rusher Nick Bosa publicly criticized the temporary-only switch, saying the plan is “a little bizarre,” a comment that has focused public attention on player safety and clubs’ surface choices.
- Team owners and stadium operators counter that permanent grass is costlier and less durable for concerts and tight event schedules, and the NFL has not committed to league-wide change though the debate could become negotiating leverage in future collective-bargaining talks.