Professor John Sorochan has developed natural-grass playing surfaces for 16 North American stadiums hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup [1], [3].
The project ensures that the pitches meet the exacting standards of FIFA for safety and performance. Because the tournament is hosted across diverse climates in North America, the grass must withstand varying conditions while remaining pristine for elite athletes.
Sorochan, a professor of turfgrass science, spent between five [1] and six [2] years working on the project. This timeline reflects a long-term scientific effort to engineer a surface that can handle the intensity of professional soccer. To achieve this, Sorochan used a mock stadium and rigorous scientific testing to simulate the environment players will encounter during the tournament [1], [2].
Developing these surfaces involves balancing soil composition, grass variety, and drainage. The goal was to create a consistent experience across all 16 venues [3]. This engineering process was necessary to ensure that the turf does not degrade under heavy use or unexpected weather patterns, a critical factor for a tournament of this scale [4].
The collaboration between Sorochan and FIFA focused on finding the right grass species that could thrive in different regions. By using a mock stadium, the team could test how the grass reacted to specific lighting and airflow conditions before implementing the solutions in the actual stadiums [1].
These preparations are now complete as the 2026 World Cup approaches [1]. The result is a network of high-performance pitches designed to minimize injury risks and maximize ball speed across the continent [4].
“16 North American stadiums hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup”
The use of a mock stadium and multi-year scientific trials indicates that FIFA is prioritizing surface consistency to reduce athlete injury and ensure a standardized game. By partnering with academic turfgrass experts, the organizers are treating the playing surface as a piece of critical infrastructure rather than simple landscaping.
