Will 2026 World Cup stadiums use natural grass?
Yes. FIFA requires natural grass at all 16 venues, so several US stadiums that normally use artificial turf for NFL games are being converted to real grass for the tournament. Most will switch back to turf once the World Cup ends.
- 1FIFA mandates natural grass at every 2026 World Cup venue[1]
- 2Seven US stadiums that use artificial turf for the NFL are installing natural grass for the event[1]
- 3Converted venues include MetLife, AT&T, Gillette, Lumen Field, NRG, SoFi and Mercedes-Benz Stadium[1]
- 4Most will revert to artificial turf after the tournament for the NFL season[1]
Yes — FIFA insists on natural grass at all 16 venues, because research links it to a lower risk of certain joint and ligament injuries. That''s a problem for several US stadiums, because many NFL teams play on artificial turf.
So seven turf stadiums — including MetLife, AT&T, Gillette, Lumen Field, NRG, SoFi and Mercedes-Benz — are having real grass installed specially for the World Cup, often a hybrid surface (natural grass reinforced with synthetic fibers) grown elsewhere and laid on top. Indoor and domed venues add extra lighting and airflow challenges. After the tournament, most will switch back to turf for the NFL season.
It's a rare case of soccer changing American stadiums: NFL players have long campaigned for grass over turf, and for one summer the World Cup gives them exactly that.
- Sports Illustrated — What it takes for NFL stadiums to have World Cup grass(accessed 2026-06-04)
- NBC Sports — NFLPA on high-quality grass for FIFA(accessed 2026-06-04)