Turfin’ Safari

For The Globe and Mail, Andrea Woo explores the logistics behind growing and installing natural grass pitches for FIFA’s 2026 World Cup stadiums. The upcoming tournament spans 16 fields across three countries. Over five years, a team led by John Sorochan, a distinguished professor in turfgrass science—what a title!—conducted research to ensure every playing field performs consistently, regardless of whether it’s on the British Columbia coast, or in humid Miami, or over 7,350 feet above sea level in Mexico City. “This is not grass,” a North Vancouver city official tells Woo. “This is an entire system of devices, of build-up. It is complex—far more complex than people realize.” Woo writes a fun behind-the-scenes look at how a World Cup pitch is built. (Subscription may be required.)

The sod-on-plastic method was used at the 1994 World Cup and was a focus of Dr. Sorochan’s master’s research at MSU.

In 2026, warmer cities would use bermudagrass, a low-maintenance grass chosen for its tolerance of heat and drought. Temperate cities would use cool-season Kentucky bluegrass, blended with fast-germinating perennial ryegrass to improve stability and boost disease resistance. Though they are distinct grass types that thrive in different climates, the two variations can be cultivated to achieve the same performance benchmarks required by FIFA.