Inside the painstaking, yearslong process of making perfect grass for the World Cup

Researchers spent years developing the grass seed mix, soil depth, and strength of the grasses that will make up the 2026 World Cup pitches.

[Photo: Nick Schrader/Michigan State University]

The 2022 FIFA World Cup hadn’t even started when researchers set out to grow the perfect pitch for the 2026 World Cup, which kicks off in cities across North America this month.

Long before teams had even qualified to play in this year’s tournament, FIFA hired two teams of researchers from Michigan State University (MSU) and the University of Tennessee (UT) to........

© Fast Company