Challenges of Grass and Turf Surfaces at U.S. Stadiums for 2026 World Cup and Copa America

Headline: U.S. stadiums struggle to meet FIFA grass requirements for 2026 World Cup

With the highly anticipated 2026 World Cup just around the corner, the United States is facing a major challenge in making its venues compliant for the prestigious tournament. Despite having some of the most advanced stadiums in the world, many of them are primarily configured for other sports, making it difficult to meet FIFA regulations regarding playing surfaces.

One of the key issues that has been causing concern is the requirement for all World Cup matches to be played on natural grass fields. Many U.S. stadiums feature artificial turf surfaces, leading them to install temporary natural grass pitches on top of the permanent fields to adhere to the rules. However, this makeshift solution has resulted in poor playing surfaces on numerous occasions, sparking criticism and debate ahead of the upcoming World Cup.

The problem came to a head during the 2024 Copa America, being hosted in the United States. Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA, one of the tournament venues, received significant backlash for its playing surface during the opening match between Argentina and Canada. Players, including Argentine goalkeeper Emi “Dibu” Martinez, voiced their frustration over the condition of the pitch, citing issues such as hardness and irregular bounce.

The criticism of the playing surfaces extended beyond just one venue, with other Copa America stadiums facing similar challenges. Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa went as far as accusing tournament organizers of misleading teams about the pitch conditions and silencing any complaints from players and coaches.

Brazil star Vinicius Jr. also expressed his discontent with the pitches, highlighting the difficulties players face due to the poor quality of the playing surfaces.

Even the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) has been impacted by the subpar conditions, with midfielder Weston McKennie voicing his frustration over the inadequate grass fields used in American stadiums.

In response to these concerns, FIFA and U.S. Soccer have initiated research efforts to develop improved techniques for installing temporary grass surfaces that meet the required standards. The goal is to create sustainable and cost-effective solutions that will ensure high-quality playing fields for the 2026 World Cup.

As the pressure mounts to upgrade the playing surfaces at U.S. stadiums, the focus remains on delivering top-notch pitches that meet FIFA standards and provide optimal conditions for the world’s top footballers to showcase their skills.