Why is the 2026 World Cup being played on grass?

FeedzyThe best soccer players in the world can be very particular about playing surface, which is why FIFA makes sure its showcase tournament has fantastic fields. Read More
When the ball starts rolling in a FIFA World Cup match, it will glide on a surface experts have been preparing for years. But why is it so important to soccer players to play on natural grass?
“I think it’s super important to play on natural surfaces,” U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams told USA TODAY Sports in May. “I think if you look at the NFL, for instance, I’m a Giants fan and you look at MetLife [Stadium] and the condition of that pitch and you see how many players, big players, often are best players end up getting injured each year. You see the toll that it takes on the body.
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“For me, playing as a professional athlete, I notice right away what type of surface I’m playing on – whether it’s good or bad. That could be grass or artificial, but from a recovery standpoint, I feel much better when I’m playing on natural grass.”
Playing on grass has been constant for elite male players in all but a few venues around the world, though women’s players have been fighting for the same opportunity for many years. Artificial surfaces not only have been shown to produce more injuries, the ball also plays much differently. In a sport where sending an inch-perfect pass sliding along the field is critical or in which sliding to the ground to make a stop often is required, players prefer natural grass.
That’s why FIFA takes its surfaces seriously, taking control of each venue weeks in advance to allow the grass surface, partnering with experts at Michigan State University and the University of Tennessee as early as 2024 to determine the best type of grass to put down and set out a plan not just for the grass itself but also for lighting in indoor venues, watering and overall playing quality.
That should lead to the fields being uniform and playing like a brand new billiards table, much to the players’ delight.

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The U.S. men’s national team World Cup roster is out, for real this time. Three days after the team’s squad was fully leaked, USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino officially revealed his 26-man roster for the 2026 tournament on Tuesday, May 26. The release confirmed the leak was, in fact, accurate, as the 26 names matched the 26 The Guardian first reported over the weekend. The names didn’t feature too many surprises, though there were still one or two decisions that could be characterized as head-scratching. “We are confident this is the best group of 26 players to help us achieve success at the World Cup,” Pochettino said. See who made the team:
Christian Pulisic, attacking midfielder/winger

(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why is the FIFA World Cup being played on grass?