Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In this episode of Science Quickly, we explore the science behind preparing natural grass for the 2026 International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup, a project in which researchers have worked to transform stadiums that typically use artificial turf into sites with elite playing surfaces. Turf experts have spent years testing grass species, refining growing methods and solving the logistical challenges of transporting and installing fields across North America. Their goal is to create consistent, high-performance pitches that can withstand intense play—and that are so seamless that the world’s best soccer players never have to think about the grass beneath their feet.
0:00 Intro
0:22 Why grass matters
1:34 Meet the guest
2:07 FIFA's grass rule
2:33 The stadium problem
3:46 Choosing the right grass
5:49 Grass meets stadium
6:51 Mexico City's surprise
7:40 Turfgrass 101
8:42 Reinforced turf
9:19 Sod transport
10:01 Sod on plastic
11:03 Installation timeline
12:02 Why natural grass?
13:32 Consistent play
13:38 Behind the project
15:05 Critiquing turf
16:05 Outro
Recommended Reading:
The Surprising Math and Physics behind the 2026 World Cup Soccer Ball
scientificamerican.com/article/the-surprising-math-and-physics-behind-the-2026-trionda-world-cup-soccer-ball
2026 FIFA World Cup players and fans at risk of extreme heat, climate scientists warn
scientificamerican.com/article/2026-fifa-world-cup-players-and-fans-at-risk-of-extreme-heat-climate-scientists-warn
Join our Summer Reading Challenge
scientificamerican.com/article/join-the-scientific-american-summer-reading-challenge
E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!
Discover something new every day. Subscribe to Scientific American: scientificamerican.com/getsciam
And sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter: scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences
Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Sushmita Pathak and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura, with fact-checking by Marielle Issa and Aaron Shattuck. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.
In this episode of Science Quickly, we explore the science behind preparing natural grass for the 2026 International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup, a project in which researchers have worked to transform stadiums that typically use artificial turf into sites with elite playing surfaces. Turf experts have spent years testing grass species, refining growing methods and solving the logistical challenges of transporting and installing fields across North America. Their goal is to create consistent, high-performance pitches that can withstand intense play—and that are so seamless that the world’s best soccer players never have to think about the grass beneath their feet.
0:00 Intro
0:22 Why grass matters
1:34 Meet the guest
2:07 FIFA's grass rule
2:33 The stadium problem
3:46 Choosing the right grass
5:49 Grass meets stadium
6:51 Mexico City's surprise
7:40 Turfgrass 101
8:42 Reinforced turf
9:19 Sod transport
10:01 Sod on plastic
11:03 Installation timeline
12:02 Why natural grass?
13:32 Consistent play
13:38 Behind the project
15:05 Critiquing turf
16:05 Outro
Recommended Reading:
The Surprising Math and Physics behind the 2026 World Cup Soccer Ball
scientificamerican.com/article/the-surprising-math-and-physics-behind-the-2026-trionda-world-cup-soccer-ball
2026 FIFA World Cup players and fans at risk of extreme heat, climate scientists warn
scientificamerican.com/article/2026-fifa-world-cup-players-and-fans-at-risk-of-extreme-heat-climate-scientists-warn
Join our Summer Reading Challenge
scientificamerican.com/article/join-the-scientific-american-summer-reading-challenge
E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!
Discover something new every day. Subscribe to Scientific American: scientificamerican.com/getsciam
And sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter: scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences
Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Sushmita Pathak and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura, with fact-checking by Marielle Issa and Aaron Shattuck. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.
