World Cup grass preparation highlights challenges before June tournament
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 4, 2026, 11:40 PM
Last updated Jun 4, 2026
The 2026 World Cup will kick off on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, marking the first tournament held across three countries. FIFA has faced significant challenges in preparing the 16 playing fields, which vary from domed stadiums to venues with artificial turf. Turf experts have worked for nearly five years to ensure each field maintains uniformity and quality despite different climates and stadium conditions. The surfaces have been cultivated specifically to thrive indoors and outdoors, with the selection of grass types crucial for performance under tournament pressure.
- •Tournament starts June 11, 2026, in Mexico City.
- •Fields must perform under diverse conditions across three countries.
- •FIFA collaborated with turf experts for nearly five years.
- •Grass types consist of Bermuda grass and a mix of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass.
- •Fields span a total of 88 square miles of natural sod.
- 11:40 PMYahoo Sports — The science behind the perfect grass on the World Cup’s 16 fields
"The World Cup’s first whistle will sound June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, kicking off a summer-long spectacle that will stretch across three countries and draw a global audience. For the grass they’ll play on, it all started years earlier in North Carolina. Or Colorado. Or Canada. Or whichever sod farm had been assigned to grow a particular, essential piece of the tournament.Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. -
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