As NFL stadiums across the country swap turf for grass ahead of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, some NFL players are hoping that change stays permanent.
Half of all NFL stadiums use a variation of artificial turf for football games. Now, seven NFL stadiums have replaced that turf with softer grass for the tournament kicking off next month as FIFA uses only grass fields, including MetLife Stadium, AT&T Field, Gillette Stadium, Lumen Field, NRG Stadium, SoFi Stadium and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Side note
— I did a story for FOX 2 about how Michigan State University’s turf management program played a major role in how to grow and install the grass in these stadiums for the World Cup if you’re interested.)
JC Tretter, executive director of the NFL Player’s Association, or NFLPA, says a vast majority of players he’s talked to want the grass to stay.
“If you ask every player that we polled, 1,700 players, 92% say they want grass over turf,” he said recently on the “Not Just Football” podcast hosted by Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward. “There is something about the feeling of being on grass, the body feels different. I think if you ask the coaches, just standing on grass vs. standing on turf for three hours feels different. There is something there that impacts the body.”
ESPN reports the NFL and the NFLPA agreed on a new method of choosing what to play on in stadiums that requires teams to select from an approved set of metrics and styles for both natural and synthetic fields.
“You look at FIFA, they’re rolling out the green carpet for soccer players. And that has become the norm,” Tretter said. “Over in European leagues, that is what you do. You play on grass. They have surface standards that each thing is rolled out. It’s exactly how it’s supposed to be. And those players will not play if it’s not that.”
And onto the rest of your notes.
- Over on The Feed, user marvol expressed frustration over some of this year’s changes to the NFL schedule. More games on more streaming services, such as an expanded five regular-season games on Netflix. Do you think it’s all too much, or the more football, the better?
- Former Lions tight end Shane Zylstra has found a new home — with a team the Lions will face in 2026.
- What could a modern twist mean?
- FYI:
