NFLPA Blasts Owners Over 7 Turf World Cup Venues as 92% of Players Prefer Grass

9 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · May 12

11 NFL stadiums hosting the 2026 World Cup are installing tournament-specific grass, prompting the NFL Players Association to accuse owners of denying NFL players the same surface after the event.
7 of those 11 venues normally use turf, while FIFA requires grass for its matches; the union said most stadiums will switch back to artificial surfaces for the NFL season.
JC Tretter, the NFLPA's new executive director, said 92% of 1,700 players polled prefer grass, arguing players want "good grass fields" even though recent data has not shown lower injury rates than turf.
The dispute could carry into labor talks: Tretter said stadium use beyond football can worsen surfaces, and the NFL's current collective bargaining agreement runs through March 2031.
The NFL has pointed instead to new field standards due in 2028, saying better measurement tools can keep surfaces in a safer, more consistent range.

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Artificial turf saves owners millions, but is it costing NFL players their long-term health and careers?