EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Hours before the host cities of the 2026 World Cup venues began their official one-year countdown to the tournament, the celebrations took on a different look at MetLife Stadium, the site of next year’s final. On a sunny morning, tractors rode across the ends of the pitch, and the grounds crew were on the grass, laying down and inspecting the final pieces of the natural surface that will call the stadium home for the next five weeks during the Club World Cup.
The Club World Cup, set to kick off this Saturday, serves as a trial run for the main event, allowing organizers to refine the experience needed for the World Cup taking place in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada next summer. The focus is on ensuring that the playing surfaces are optimal across various stadiums, regardless of differing climates and specifications.
“After the specifications for the tournament are clarified, each venue will go away and work out the best way to deliver those,” stated Blair Christiansen, the venue pitch manager at MetLife Stadium. As the preparations continue, planned improvements based on feedback from players will be implemented.
The task involves adjusting the mechanics of transitioning from typically artificial turf to a grass surface, which is critical for achieving a high-quality playing experience. Last year’s Copa America matches at MetLife Stadium revealed many issues with the grass; thus, careful steps are being taken this year to mitigate past criticism.
Christiansen highlighted, “The profile’s unique, requiring us to establish a drainage layer below the surface,” aiming to create a resilient turf suitable for the tournament. The grass used in the stadium was cultivated at Tuckahoe Turf Farms in Hammonton, New Jersey, and was recently delivered under less than favorable weather conditions but held up well under evaluation.
The Club World Cup will provide valuable information to FIFA’s grass experts as they prepare for the World Cup, with the emphasis on learning from each match to adapt future maintenance and preparation processes.
