In anticipation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the United States, Canada, and Mexico will co-host, several well-known NFL stadiums are undergoing a significant makeover: the installation of natural grass in place of artificial turf fields. A lengthy and intensely contentious discussion about playing fields, injury rates, and the NFL's dedication to its own players has been rekindled by this FIFA-mandated modification for player safety and performance reasons.
FIFA’s Mandate: No Turf Allowed
All of FIFA's tournament matches must take place on natural grass. Research backs up the organization's belief that grass offers a more forgiving, safer surface that lowers the risk of some injuries, especially those involving ligaments and joints. Stadiums that normally host NFL games on artificial turf are therefore required to switch to natural grass for the duration of the competition.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, home of the Falcons, AT&T Stadium in Dallas, home of the Cowboys, and MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, home of the New York Giants and Jets, are some of the stadiums making the move. To comply with FIFA's requirements, these venues are spending millions of dollars. For instance, Atlanta is investing about $200 million to upgrade its stadium with grass temporarily.
NFL Players Question the Double Standard
Players and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) have taken notice of the decision to install grass fields for the World Cup but not for the NFL season. Players have been urging the league to move away from turf for years because they claim there is a definite trend of higher injury rates.
— ACL Recovery Club (@ACLrecoveryCLUB) September 27, 2022
Aaron Rodgers' well-known Achilles injury, which occurred minutes after he made his New York Jets debut at MetLife Stadium in 2023, became a hot topic of discussion. The injury happened on artificial turf, and despite growing evidence of its risks, many players, including Rodgers, expressed their displeasure with the surface's use in NFL stadiums.
“We’ve been asking for grass for years,” players have tweeted. They’re now seeing billion-dollar renovations for temporary grass fields to accommodate soccer players, but nothing permanent for NFL athletes. What does that say about the player's value to the league?
Turf v. Grass: What the Research Says
According to studies, artificial turf has a higher injury rate than natural grass, especially for non-contact lower extremity injuries. A 2019 study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine found that the overall injury rate in NCAA football was 13% higher on artificial turf than on natural grass. However, it’s notable that certain injuries, like concussions, showed no significant difference between surfaces, while ankle sprains were slightly more common on turf. In contrast, a 2020 NFL study reported an ACL injury rate of 0.042 per 100 team plays on synthetic turf, compared to 0.029 on grass, suggesting a modest increase. This data supports the fact that catastrophic, career-altering, injuries occur more frequently on turf compared to grass. Additionally, Players were 28% more likely to sustain a non-contact lower-body injury on turf, according to a 2021 NFLPA report. Positions requiring a lot of cutting, pivoting, and acceleration—movements that are common in both football and soccer—are particularly concerning.
Many NFL stadiums have kept using synthetic turf despite the data, citing the flexibility it provides for multipurpose venues, lower maintenance costs, and climate challenges. Turf enables more frequent use without deterioration, as grass is often difficult to maintain throughout the year in stadiums in colder or wetter climates.
A Cost-Benefit Analysis—or a Misplaced Priority?
The grass-to-turf argument frequently boils down to cost and logistics for teams and stadium operators. Artificial turf doesn't need as much sunlight or watering systems, and it's easier to maintain. However, it raises serious concerns about priorities that these same stadiums are willing to spend hundreds of millions to temporarily install grass for soccer matches.
For instance, the Tennessee Titans have declared that, despite growing calls for grass, their new stadium, which is expected to open in the late 2020s, will use synthetic turf because of maintenance issues. In the meantime, stadiums hosting World Cup games are figuring out how to set up cutting-edge grass systems, such as retractable trays that can be taken outside for sunlight and returned inside for games, and hybrid surfaces.
Could the World Cup Spark Lasting Change?
Some people believe that the World Cup's attention and investment will act as a spark for long-lasting change in the NFL. Stadium design innovations, such as the retractable pitch system at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which can accommodate both artificial and grass fields, may serve as a template for multipurpose venues in the future.
The NFL and FIFA are also talking about working together on field safety best practices. If successful, some of the World Cup grass solutions might be adopted by the NFL as standard practice, particularly if injury rates keep favoring natural grass.
