With the 2026 World Cup just weeks away, a team of turfgrass scientists has spent nearly a decade perfecting the fields where 104 matches will be played. From indoor stadiums to diverse climates across North America, their research aims to avoid the pitch problems that plagued the 2024 Copa América.
During the 2024 Copa América, Argentina star Ángel Di María struggled to control the ball on a temporary grass field in Atlanta, sparking complaints about inconsistent playing surfaces. That criticism has motivated co-hosts US, Canada, and Mexico to invest heavily in pitch quality.
John Sorochan, a professor at the University of Tennessee, has been contracted by FIFA to oversee the growth and installation of grass at all 16 World Cup stadiums. He worries most about the five domed venues, saying, "Plants need light, ideally sunlight, to grow."
Sorochan and his team have conducted over 170 experiments to determine optimal grass height, mowing patterns, and irrigation. They found that a difference of just five millimeters can make a pitch feel like "velcro" or a perfect natural carpet. Using machines that shoot footballs and stamp boots onto turf, they measured bounce, speed, and traction.
The project spans stadiums from the humid heat of Mexico City to the cool of Toronto. Warmer venues will feature Bermuda grass, cut shorter for density and faster drying; cooler sites will use Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. To improve durability, plastic fibers are woven into the sod.
Trey Rogers III of Michigan State University, a veteran turf scientist, notes the challenge is the massive scale of temporary fields being built simultaneously. Yet both scientists are confident their research will minimize variation, ensuring a consistent, safe playing surface for the world's top players.