Grass installation has officially kicked off at MetLife Stadium, setting the stage for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The venue, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is set to host eight matches during the tournament—including the highly anticipated final on July 19. This marks a major milestone as crews work to transform the home of the NFL's New York Giants and Jets from its usual artificial turf into a pristine natural grass pitch.
The 2026 World Cup is the largest in history, featuring an expanded 48-nation field and 104 games across 16 venues in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The tournament kicks off on June 12, and FIFA is taking no chances with the playing surfaces. Two distinct grass types will be used depending on the climate and conditions of each host city.
For warm-weather venues like MetLife Stadium, FIFA has selected Bermuda grass—a durable, heat-tolerant surface that thrives in the summer sun. Joining East Rutherford in this category are Guadalajara, Kansas City, Miami Gardens, Monterrey, and Santa Clara. Meanwhile, cool-season and indoor venues—including Arlington, Atlanta, Foxborough, Houston, Inglewood, Mexico City, Philadelphia, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver—will feature a blend of perennial rye and Kentucky bluegrass, known for its resilience in cooler temperatures and shaded environments.
The grass itself has been in the works for nearly a year. FIFA sourced the sod from 10 specialized turf farms across Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., with harvesting beginning about 10 months ago. At MetLife, installation crews began laying down approximately 600 rolls of North Carolina-grown grass on Wednesday, aiming to complete the job by late Thursday. The process is no small feat: workers first spread 18 to 24 inches of sand, followed by a layer of Permavoid—a permeable fabric that aids drainage—then a vacuum and ventilation system, more sand, and finally the grass itself. Artificial stitching between the rolls ensures a seamless, stable surface for the world's best players.
The transformation goes beyond the turf. To meet FIFA's strict field dimensions—75 by 115 yards (68 by 105 meters)—1,740 seats in the stadium's corners have been removed to accommodate the wider soccer pitch and space for corner kicks. For context, MetLife's current capacity record stands at 83,367, set during a Jets-Giants matchup in October 2023. FIFA Senior Pitch Manager David Graham noted the round-the-clock effort: "We started last night at roughly 4 o'clock, 5 o'clock. There's been 14 trucks onsite yesterday. We finished about 2 a.m. We then continued."
As the countdown to the World Cup continues, fans can expect more stadiums to undergo similar makeovers. For now, all eyes are on MetLife as it prepares to host the tournament's biggest prize—and the world's biggest stars—on a field built to perfection.