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3h ago

World Cup Pitches Use Engineered Turf Developed by MSU, Tennessee and Rutgers

FIFA commissioned tray-grown, tested sod to give similar playing conditions across 16 North American venues.

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Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
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An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows The grass field is installed at MetLife Stadium, Image 2 shows Soccer field condition tests are performed on the grass field at MetLife Stadium on May 28, 2026, Image 3 shows A general view of the grass field at MetLife Stadium for the 2026 World Cup

Overview

  • The engineered turf systems are installed or staged at host stadiums for the tournament that begins Thursday, June 11, 2026, and will be used for World Cup matches.
  • Researchers settled on an 84% Kentucky bluegrass and 16% perennial ryegrass mix for cooler sites while warmer venues use Bermuda varieties, and a Rutgers cool-season blend is laid at multiple North American stadiums with a few venues using other growers.
  • Most fields were grown in shallow plastic trays filled with sand so mature sod can be rolled, shipped and installed as temporary surfaces and stadiums were fitted with vacuum drainage and portable LED grow-light specifications to support the shallow rootzone.
  • MSU and Tennessee teams used purpose-built tests such as the fLEX foot-strike simulator, a sod-pull rig and Rutgers’ rubber-paddle durability tester to measure playability and strength and those protocols will inform field monitoring during the event.
  • The program builds on decades of turf science, addresses the logistics of converting artificial-turf stadiums for a multi-city Cup, and could shape future choices about temporary grass, stadium investments and player-surface safety discussions.