World Cup 2026 stadiums to receive natural grass after six-year conversion effort

Six years of research and testing led by John Trey Rogers, a turf‑science professor at Michigan State University, is preparing the 16 venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States, Mexico and Canada. The tournament, which starts on 11 June, will feature 48 teams playing 104 matches. All host stadiums, many originally built for the NFL, must replace artificial surfaces with natural grass that meets FIFA’s standards.

Rogers and his team selected three grass species to suit each climate: a mix of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass for colder sites such as Toronto, Philadelphia and Mexico City, and Bermuda grass for warmer locations like Miami, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Roof‑covered arenas required special lighting and irrigation systems, and at Kansas City’s stadium ten rows of seats were removed to expand the playing area. “FIFA wants the most important matches played on natural grass,” Rogers said. The project aims to ensure consistent field quality, ball behavior and player safety throughout the six‑week tournament.