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FIFA rules state that World Cup matches must be played on pitches with natural grass. For this year's tournament, where some matches were scheduled in stadiums with artificial turf, special varieties of grass were required to withstand playing conditions and differing climates. Conor Knighton examines how scientifically-engineered sod was... show more

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Eight days into construction at NRG Stadium of what will be an all natural grass field for World Cup matches in Houston. 81,000 square feet of Kentucky bluegrass will be trucked in from Denver where the sod is grown. FIFA regulations call for simulating a natural outdoor field.

Eight days into construction at NRG Stadium of what will be an all natural grass field for World Cup matches in Houston. 81,000 square feet of Kentucky bluegrass will be trucked in from Denver where the sod is grown. FIFA regulations call for simulating a natural outdoor field.

Chris Baldwin

808,826 views • 4 months ago

This is a cool look at how SoFi Stadium prepared to host eight World Cup matches (including the USMNT’s first match on home soil in 32 years). They had to remove seats and suites and then built an entirely new natural grass field with irrigation and drainage on top of the turf.

This is a cool look at how SoFi Stadium prepared to host eight World Cup matches (including the USMNT’s first match on home soil in 32 years). They had to remove seats and suites and then built an entirely new natural grass field with irrigation and drainage on top of the turf.

Joe Pompliano

528,914 views • 3 months ago

North Korea defies FIFA and broadcasts World Cup matches for free to its people State television in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is airing World Cup matches free of charge for viewers inside the country, arguing that the tournament is a global event that should not be restricted by paid viewing rights. Local media conveyed the message that *“the World Cup is a global tournament, and no entity has the right to deprive the public of watching it in exchange for fees.”* Pyongyang continues to broadcast World Cup matches live and free in every edition, reflecting its rejection of commercial broadcasting restrictions despite external criticism or objections.

North Korea defies FIFA and broadcasts World Cup matches for free to its people State television in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is airing World Cup matches free of charge for viewers inside the country, arguing that the tournament is a global event that should not be restricted by paid viewing rights. Local media conveyed the message that “the World Cup is a global tournament, and no entity has the right to deprive the public of watching it in exchange for fees.” Pyongyang continues to broadcast World Cup matches live and free in every edition, reflecting its rejection of commercial broadcasting restrictions despite external criticism or objections.

China pulse 🇨🇳

17,822 views • 3 months ago

Organizers in Philadelphia have officially begun the final transformation of Lincoln Financial Field, while in Los Angeles workers were installing 13 truckloads of official grass at SoFi Stadium as the two cities prepare to host matches for the FIFA World Cup 2026

Organizers in Philadelphia have officially begun the final transformation of Lincoln Financial Field, while in Los Angeles workers were installing 13 truckloads of official grass at SoFi Stadium as the two cities prepare to host matches for the FIFA World Cup 2026

Reuters

24,415 views • 4 months ago

The 2026 World Cup had a major challenge with grass: FIFA retrofit 16 stadiums in Canada, Mexico and US to keep fields consistent for 48 teams and 104 matches. It asked grass scientists at U of Tennessee and to design solution: ▫️they made a modular hybrid turf (95% grass / 5% synthetic fiber) that is easily rollable, transportable and installable ▫️each field has 20 million synenthic fibers sewn into dirt (grassroots intertwine with fibers to prevent field from tearing) ▫️all 11 stadiums in US host NFL teams…7 of those had to do special conversion of astroturf fields (Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, LA, NY, Seattle) ▫️5 stadiums have a dome (eg. BC Place in Vancouver) and scientists developed special UV grow light machines to help maintain grass in those structures ▫️grass in Southern US and two Mexico locations (Monterrey, Guadalajara) need grass species for warm and humid temperatures (“Bermuda grass”) ▫️Northern US/Canada and Mexico City need grass for cooler climates (“Kentucky bluegrass”) ▫️scientists built special machines to test player foot impact and ball bouncing effect (reduce injuries and make sure ball movement consistent) ▫️grass sods we’re grown on plastic so they spread horizontally, making it easier to roll and transport *** Interview with U Tennessee grass science expert Dr. John Sorochan (via PBS):

The 2026 World Cup had a major challenge with grass: FIFA retrofit 16 stadiums in Canada, Mexico and US to keep fields consistent for 48 teams and 104 matches. It asked grass scientists at U of Tennessee and to design solution: ▫️they made a modular hybrid turf (95% grass / 5% synthetic fiber) that is easily rollable, transportable and installable ▫️each field has 20 million synenthic fibers sewn into dirt (grassroots intertwine with fibers to prevent field from tearing) ▫️all 11 stadiums in US host NFL teams…7 of those had to do special conversion of astroturf fields (Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, LA, NY, Seattle) ▫️5 stadiums have a dome (eg. BC Place in Vancouver) and scientists developed special UV grow light machines to help maintain grass in those structures ▫️grass in Southern US and two Mexico locations (Monterrey, Guadalajara) need grass species for warm and humid temperatures (“Bermuda grass”) ▫️Northern US/Canada and Mexico City need grass for cooler climates (“Kentucky bluegrass”) ▫️scientists built special machines to test player foot impact and ball bouncing effect (reduce injuries and make sure ball movement consistent) ▫️grass sods we’re grown on plastic so they spread horizontally, making it easier to roll and transport *** Interview with U Tennessee grass science expert Dr. John Sorochan (via PBS):

Trung Phan

1,373,450 views • 3 months ago

Fun fact: Despite all the talk about stadiums in the U.S., the United States didn’t even need to use half of the world-class venues available for the 2026 World Cup. Take State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, a modern 63,000-seat stadium that wasn’t even selected for tournament matches. The U.S. had so many top-tier venues to choose from that several outstanding stadiums were left unused. That’s a testament to the depth of America’s sports infrastructure and the scale of what it can offer on the world stage. 🇺🇸🏟️⚽

Fun fact: Despite all the talk about stadiums in the U.S., the United States didn’t even need to use half of the world-class venues available for the 2026 World Cup. Take State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, a modern 63,000-seat stadium that wasn’t even selected for tournament matches. The U.S. had so many top-tier venues to choose from that several outstanding stadiums were left unused. That’s a testament to the depth of America’s sports infrastructure and the scale of what it can offer on the world stage. 🇺🇸🏟️⚽

Mapz

82,196 views • 3 months ago

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in one month, and work is underway to install fresh grass surfaces in NFL stadiums for the world's top soccer players. NFL players have spent years advocating for safer, high-quality grass fields at their place of work, but when the World Cup is over, most of these stadiums will revert back to turf for the NFL season. Our players deserve workplaces that prioritize their preference, protect them against the weekly wear and tear of the game, and support their long-term health and performance. Watch the full JC Tretter interview with Cam Heyward and Not Just Football here:

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in one month, and work is underway to install fresh grass surfaces in NFL stadiums for the world's top soccer players. NFL players have spent years advocating for safer, high-quality grass fields at their place of work, but when the World Cup is over, most of these stadiums will revert back to turf for the NFL season. Our players deserve workplaces that prioritize their preference, protect them against the weekly wear and tear of the game, and support their long-term health and performance. Watch the full JC Tretter interview with Cam Heyward and Not Just Football here:

NFLPA

780,351 views • 4 months ago

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest tournament in the competition's history with matches being played across 16 host cities in the US, Mexico and Canada. Al Jazeera’s Gemma Nash takes a closer look at some of the venues for the tournament.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest tournament in the competition's history with matches being played across 16 host cities in the US, Mexico and Canada. Al Jazeera’s Gemma Nash takes a closer look at some of the venues for the tournament.

AJE Sport

48,756 views • 3 months ago

Abhishek Sharma on Shubman Gill. "Trust me, Suryakumar & Shubman will win matches for India in the World Cup, matches before the World Cup as well. I’ve played with them for so long, especially with Shubman. I know where Shubman can excel, in what conditions, irrespective of the opponent. I have full trust in him. Very soon, everyone else will gain that trust in him, too." 🎥- BCCI

Abhishek Sharma on Shubman Gill. "Trust me, Suryakumar & Shubman will win matches for India in the World Cup, matches before the World Cup as well. I’ve played with them for so long, especially with Shubman. I know where Shubman can excel, in what conditions, irrespective of the opponent. I have full trust in him. Very soon, everyone else will gain that trust in him, too." 🎥- BCCI

GillTheWill

428,914 views • 9 months ago

Contractors at the National Sports Stadium have today begun working on the turf. They are removing the old grass and replacing it with new, with the target to finish ahead of Zimbabwe's next home game in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September.

Contractors at the National Sports Stadium have today begun working on the turf. They are removing the old grass and replacing it with new, with the target to finish ahead of Zimbabwe's next home game in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September.

The Herald Zimbabwe

28,187 views • 1 year ago

#WATCH | On Team India winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, Head Coach of Team India, Gautam Gambhir says in an interview with ANI, "...When we started this entire process of preparing for the next World Cup 1.5 years ago, the only things on our minds were how we could give ourselves the best chance to win the World Cup. The most important thing was, could we be the most fearless team in the world? Take the matches against Zimbabwe, West Indies, the semi-finals, or the finals; the way the team played with bravery shows that we were able to implement our plans" Watch Full Episode Here:

#WATCH | On Team India winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, Head Coach of Team India, Gautam Gambhir says in an interview with ANI, "...When we started this entire process of preparing for the next World Cup 1.5 years ago, the only things on our minds were how we could give ourselves the best chance to win the World Cup. The most important thing was, could we be the most fearless team in the world? Take the matches against Zimbabwe, West Indies, the semi-finals, or the finals; the way the team played with bravery shows that we were able to implement our plans" Watch Full Episode Here:

ANI

13,324 views • 6 months ago

thoughts on the whole stadium thing with the world cup: People were concerned about the stadiums lacking character / aura because they don’t have the same legacy and history and quirkiness as most of the european venues. Rightfully so! However, what US stadiums lack in legacy, they make up in grandeur. Which doesn’t always land. But when the fans bring the energy that matches that grandeur, it’s something magical

thoughts on the whole stadium thing with the world cup: People were concerned about the stadiums lacking character / aura because they don’t have the same legacy and history and quirkiness as most of the european venues. Rightfully so! However, what US stadiums lack in legacy, they make up in grandeur. Which doesn’t always land. But when the fans bring the energy that matches that grandeur, it’s something magical

cam 💖

175,005 views • 3 months ago

Aleksander Ceferin UEFA President has just dropped a bombshell, filing a formal lawsuit against FIFA and President Gianni Infantino at the Court of Arbitration for Sport over alleged biased officiating and fixed matches during the recently concluded 2026 World Cup. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin 🗣️: “One of the biggest mistakes European football ever made was continuing to trust FIFA under Infantino’s leadership. What we witnessed in this World Cup was not competition it was theatre. Matches were influenced, decisions were pre-arranged, and the integrity of the tournament was systematically destroyed. When the tournament began we already had serious concerns. Key knockout matches involving European sides were decided by clear, repeated refereeing errors that always seemed to go one way. We gathered evidence, video analysis, and internal reports. The pattern was undeniable. We approached FIFA privately and presented the findings. We expected an independent review. Instead we were told to stay quiet, that ‘the spectacle was more important than the truth,’ and that any public complaint would be treated as an attack on the World Cup itself. That was the moment we knew the system was broken. So UEFA has now taken the only remaining step: we have sued FIFA and Gianni Infantino personally for orchestrating and protecting a competition whose outcomes were compromised. The evidence will be presented in full. The world deserves to know how far the beautiful game has fallen under this regime. If Infantino remains in power, football will continue to be sold to the highest bidder and the purest form of the sport will keep dying. That is the truth. We tried every internal channel. Now the courts will decide.”

Aleksander Ceferin UEFA President has just dropped a bombshell, filing a formal lawsuit against FIFA and President Gianni Infantino at the Court of Arbitration for Sport over alleged biased officiating and fixed matches during the recently concluded 2026 World Cup. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin 🗣️: “One of the biggest mistakes European football ever made was continuing to trust FIFA under Infantino’s leadership. What we witnessed in this World Cup was not competition it was theatre. Matches were influenced, decisions were pre-arranged, and the integrity of the tournament was systematically destroyed. When the tournament began we already had serious concerns. Key knockout matches involving European sides were decided by clear, repeated refereeing errors that always seemed to go one way. We gathered evidence, video analysis, and internal reports. The pattern was undeniable. We approached FIFA privately and presented the findings. We expected an independent review. Instead we were told to stay quiet, that ‘the spectacle was more important than the truth,’ and that any public complaint would be treated as an attack on the World Cup itself. That was the moment we knew the system was broken. So UEFA has now taken the only remaining step: we have sued FIFA and Gianni Infantino personally for orchestrating and protecting a competition whose outcomes were compromised. The evidence will be presented in full. The world deserves to know how far the beautiful game has fallen under this regime. If Infantino remains in power, football will continue to be sold to the highest bidder and the purest form of the sport will keep dying. That is the truth. We tried every internal channel. Now the courts will decide.”

Timming

35,657 views • 1 month ago

"[Argentina] were absolutely graceless. ... [Leandro Paredes] should be hit with a suspension of, let's say, a minimum of five matches. ... [FIFA] have to hit Argentina very, very hard. ... That was way, way too much." Ian Darke and the ESPN FC crew weigh in on the controversy surrounding Argentina after the World Cup Final scenes.

"[Argentina] were absolutely graceless. ... [Leandro Paredes] should be hit with a suspension of, let's say, a minimum of five matches. ... [FIFA] have to hit Argentina very, very hard. ... That was way, way too much." Ian Darke and the ESPN FC crew weigh in on the controversy surrounding Argentina after the World Cup Final scenes.

ESPN Podcasts

47,791 views • 2 months ago

Hear from FBI Director Kash Patel on how the World Cup was the Bureau's largest-ever deployment of personnel. This event required the FBI to be "mathematically precise" in how and where teams were assigned to effectively protect fans and visitors across the country.

Hear from FBI Director Kash Patel on how the World Cup was the Bureau's largest-ever deployment of personnel. This event required the FBI to be "mathematically precise" in how and where teams were assigned to effectively protect fans and visitors across the country.

FBI

128,016 views • 2 months ago

Iran say they are in talks with FIFA to move their World Cup matches to co-host Mexico from the US. US President Donald Trump said last week he didn't think it was "appropriate" for Iran to be at the tournament "for their own life and safety."

Iran say they are in talks with FIFA to move their World Cup matches to co-host Mexico from the US. US President Donald Trump said last week he didn't think it was "appropriate" for Iran to be at the tournament "for their own life and safety."

Sky Sports News

544,930 views • 6 months ago

Revenge will be sweet, and the Somali nation will one day host the FIFA World Cup in the future. We have produced one of the best FIFA World Cup songs, and we currently have some of the best referees in the world. Soon, we will build some of the greatest football stadiums in the world. The current Somali U-17 team is preparing for the future, and we believe we can achieve great success on the world stage. Just remember this promise. We will win the World Cup before the U.S. and Israel no matter how hard they try to humiliate, divide, or boycott the Somali Republic 🇸🇴. Your hate will motivate us, and we will not bow down to you. Not now, not ever!

Revenge will be sweet, and the Somali nation will one day host the FIFA World Cup in the future. We have produced one of the best FIFA World Cup songs, and we currently have some of the best referees in the world. Soon, we will build some of the greatest football stadiums in the world. The current Somali U-17 team is preparing for the future, and we believe we can achieve great success on the world stage. Just remember this promise. We will win the World Cup before the U.S. and Israel no matter how hard they try to humiliate, divide, or boycott the Somali Republic 🇸🇴. Your hate will motivate us, and we will not bow down to you. Not now, not ever!

REIS🇸🇴

12,396 views • 3 months ago

The countdown is on to the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tournament is expected to be the biggest in the event's history, with 48 teams competing across the U.S., Canada and Mexico in 104 matches over 39 days. But organizers have faced criticism over soaring ticket prices and geopolitical tensions that have complicated travel for some teams and their supporters. Geoff Bennett speaks to roger bennett for more.

The countdown is on to the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tournament is expected to be the biggest in the event's history, with 48 teams competing across the U.S., Canada and Mexico in 104 matches over 39 days. But organizers have faced criticism over soaring ticket prices and geopolitical tensions that have complicated travel for some teams and their supporters. Geoff Bennett speaks to roger bennett for more.

PBS News

16,977 views • 3 months ago

We are proud to be involved with the future of E-sport and to be a part of the Esport World Cup. The Esport world cup is the largest esport tournament, a premier global tournament that assembles the best professional gamers from around the globe to compete in a variety of video games. We are pleased to finally be able to showcase our cinematic video for Esports World Cup A special thank you to stc group Pepsi #jameelmotors Qiddiya Gaming and Sony

We are proud to be involved with the future of E-sport and to be a part of the Esport World Cup. The Esport world cup is the largest esport tournament, a premier global tournament that assembles the best professional gamers from around the globe to compete in a variety of video games. We are pleased to finally be able to showcase our cinematic video for Esports World Cup A special thank you to stc group Pepsi #jameelmotors Qiddiya Gaming and Sony

NMBRS

16,599 views • 2 years ago