NFLPA taking notice of grass surfaces for World Cup

Field Level Media|published: Wed 13th May, 17:22 2026

Strings of grass on SIS Pitches outside at the research area for turf for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the University of Tennessee's East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center-Plant Sciences Unit on Oct. 21, 2025.

NFL players have their eyes on how soccer players are being treated for the World Cup. And they see grass fields being rolled in.

NFL Players Association executive director JC Tretter is well aware that seven stadiums which house NFL teams are removing artificial turf and installing the softer grass for the World Cup, which starts next month.

However, when the NFL season starts in September, those stadiums will all be back to artificial turf surfaces.

"What we want is good grass fields. Good, solid fields," Tretter said recently on the "Not Just Football" podcast hosted by Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward. "You don't just want to pull out the (municipal) golf course grass. On every field, you want high-quality surfaces. ...

"If you ask every player that we polled, 1,700 players, 92% say they want grass over turf. There is something about the feeling of being on grass, the body feels different. I think if you ask the coaches, just standing on grass vs. standing on turf for three hours feels different. There is something there that impacts the body."

FIFA requires the use of grass surfaces for World Cup games. That has led to the field changes in East Rutherford N.J. (New York Giants, New York Jets), Arlington, Texas (Dallas Cowboys), Foxborough, Mass. (New England Patriots), Seattle (Seahawks), Houston (Texans), Inglewood, Calif. (Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers) and Atlanta (Falcons).

MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host the final on July 19.

"You look at FIFA, they're rolling out the green carpet for soccer players. And that has become the norm," Tretter said. "Over in European leagues, that is what you do. You play on grass. They have surface standards that each thing is rolled out. It's exactly how it's supposed to be. And those players will not play if it's not that."

The NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement expires in March 2031. Tretter said the NFLPA will definitely be discussing surfaces with the league.

--Field Level Media

Latest