WHY THE WORLD CUP USES NATURAL GRASS AT NFL STADIUMS The 2026 FIFA World Cup is shining a bright spotlight on one of the longest-running debates in professional sports: natural grass vs. artificial turf. As reported in Sports Business Journal, the tournament’s strict requirement for high-quality natural grass playing surfaces at host stadiums — many of which are NFL venues that normally rely on synthetic turf long-term field standards. 92% of NFL players prefer natural grass