The University of Tennessee at Knoxville is in the final stages of turfgrass research to ensure consistent playing surfaces across 16 stadiums for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Leading the effort is professor John Sorochan, whose team has developed innovative techniques tested at the Club World Cup earlier this year. The work focuses on replicating conditions in domed stadiums to prioritize player safety and performance.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 104 matches across stadiums in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the University of Tennessee playing a key role in maintaining pristine turf quality. John Sorochan, a distinguished professor of turfgrass sciences and management at UT, described the project as being in the "11th hour" of preparation. His team, in collaboration with Michigan State University and FIFA, has built a covered facility at the East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center-Plant Sciences Unit to simulate conditions in five domed stadiums: Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Vancouver.
Innovations include growing sod on plastic to develop roots without cutting them, allowing for quick installation and removal in under 12 hours. Each sod plot is about 2 inches thick, with artificial fibers comprising roughly 5% for stability. UT employs LED grow lights—shining for about 12 hours per full field—to mimic indoor growth, using blue wavelengths for sturdy development and red for lush growth.
The team developed the fLEX machine following a 2018 NFL game relocation in Mexico City due to unsafe field conditions. This device simulates foot strikes with sensors to measure surface compliance, now used by NFL teams and sold to Norwegian company SGL System earlier this year. For the World Cup, they overseed warm-season Bermuda grass with cool-season ryegrass for stabilization, building on success from the Club World Cup. While most soccer pitches use Kentucky Bluegrass, Bermuda will be applied in suitable climates.
Installation options include a shallow pitch with geotextile fabric Permavoid for drainage or an elevated version atop six inches of sand. Lead technician Dillon McCallum, pursuing a master's in turfgrass pathology, reflected: “If I could have told myself sophomore year of college that I was going to be working on a project that was helping assist the organization in putting on the FIFA World Cup, I would have said, 'That’s crazy' and 'That sounds perfect.'” Sorochan emphasized: “We've come up with something that you can put in a temporary surface and still play at the highest quality level.”
The research ensures consistent feel across surfaces for player safety, minimizing variables like torn turf. FIFA, UT, and Michigan State plan to inform teams about varying pitches. For comparison, turf at Neyland Stadium rests on about one foot of sand.
