FIFA held its second Lawn Research Day to discuss observation programs held over the summer and findings from pilot projects. The event also provided an opportunity to tour the research and development facilities on the Michigan State University campus, as well as meet the teams responsible for ensuring that the stadium fields and training sites of the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ are of the highest possible quality.
More than forty turf managers, growers and market leaders gathered at Michigan State University (MSU), which, along with the University of Tennessee (UT), collaborates with the FIFA around best practices and innovations in the sector. These exchanges aim to provide the stadiums and training sites for the 2026 edition of FIFA’s flagship competition with the best possible playing surfaces.
“I am delighted with the research and concrete results our team has achieved so far,” said Alan David Ferguson, FIFA Senior Manager of Pitch Management.
“The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest edition of all time and our contribution to this event will consist of offering impeccable surface quality for an unprecedented quantity of pitches. We are fortunate to be able to count on some of the greatest specialists in the world turf professionals, who work onsite or remotely to help us throughout the process.”
During the CONMEBOL Copa América 2024 held in the United States, the CONMEBOL pitch management team 2026 FIFA World Cup™ carried out numerous inspection visits to the stadiums which will host the FIFA competition. Its members were able to evaluate the facilities of a certain number of sites selected for 2026, and see the teams responsible for maintaining the grounds at work. They were also able to conduct additional tests at the end of the event to see how the different terrains evolved throughout the competition.
Furthermore, the results of a pilot project at Dallas Stadium were presented. Ahead of the 2024 Copa América, the team responsible for managing the pitch at this ultra-modern venue had installed a natural grass pitch with a view to hosting three matches of the competition. The pitch was delivered and maintained as closely as possible to the requirements valid for the FIFA World Cup. During the Canada-Mexico match, which took place on September 10 in the same stadium, another type of turf – “quick installation” – was used. The two pitches received positive feedback from the players and their management, but also from the staff responsible for operating the site.
After the list of host cities and venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ was revealed in June 2022, the FIFA pitch management team launched a unique research and development project over five years aimed at creating the best possible pitch surfaces for the competition.
FIFA has partnered with UT and MSU, two global research leaders specializing in pitch management and player welfare, to implement the largest turf research program ever made on football. UT built a state-of-the-art shade house to provide indoor stadium conditions, while MSU installed more than 2,000 m of asphalt space on campus to replicate stadium turf conditions.
With three host countries, 16 host cities, and varying sporting venues, time zones and climates, the FIFA World Cup 26™ poses unique challenges for the delivery of uniform and consistent natural grass pitches. It is also an opportunity to develop the optimum playing conditions for what will be the biggest sporting event in history, as well as future tournaments around the world for years to come.
