John Sorochan Completes 16-Field FIFA Pitch Project for 2026 World Cup
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 14
John Sorochan Completes 16-Field FIFA Pitch Project for 2026 World Cup
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 14
Summary
Sixteen World Cup pitches are now installed and ready, capping a FIFA research project John Sorochan said had reached the final “crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s” stage before kickoff.
Since 2018, Sorochan and Michigan State’s John “Trey” Rogers have led the multimillion-dollar effort to make playing surfaces perform consistently across 16 stadiums with sharply different climates and layouts.
The challenge ranged from Toronto to Guadalajara, including indoor and outdoor venues, heavy rain and intense sun, and stadiums where artificial turf had to be adapted for elite natural-grass play.
FIFA’s goal was to give players a near-identical experience over almost 40 days of tournament wear, reducing slips and other pitch-related variables as the 2026 World Cup begins.