We Designed the Turf for the World Cup. Here's How We Created the Same Playing Experience Across Three Countries

We designed the turf for the World Cup. Here's how we created the same playing experience across three countries

With 104 matches in 16 stadiums across Canada, the United States and Mexico, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be soccer's biggest event ever.

We designed the turf for soccer’s biggest World Cup ever – here’s how we created the same playing experience across 3 countries

World Cup pitches take a beating. AP Photo/Bernat ArmangueWith 104 matches in 16 stadiums across Canada, the United States and Mexico, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be soccer’s biggest event ever. It’s our job as turfgrass researchers hired by FIFA, the game’s governing body, to make sure those pitches feel the same for players and that the grass thrives. That’s not so simple. In fact, it seemed like an impossible challenge at first. Picking the …