7 NFL Stadiums Install Grass for 2026 World Cup as Turf Debate Intensifies

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 5

Seven NFL stadiums are switching to grass for the 2026 World Cup, a move Fox Sports analyst Stu Holden said will trigger a major post-tournament debate over why NFL players still compete on turf.
Holden said FIFA’s strict grass standards will show that high-quality natural surfaces can be installed and maintained, strengthening players’ case that grass delivers a better on-field product.
The NFLPA has said 92% of players prefer grass and has cited studies finding it safer than turf, while players have repeatedly complained about synthetic surfaces including MetLife Stadium’s.
The NFL is tightening field standards before the 2026 season by giving teams an approved field library and a two-year compliance window, but it still does not plan to require natural grass.
Chief medical officer Allen Sills has said the league sees no statistically significant injury or concussion differences by surface type, leaving the World Cup conversion as a fresh test of that stance.