Grass Pitch Installed at MetLife Stadium Ahead of World Cup Final

Natural turf laid at MetLife Stadium for World Cup final

The grass pitch is in place at MetLife Stadium for the 2026 World Cup final, but fans are pushing back over $105 train fares to reach the venue. 

“When it comes to delivering a field for the World Cup or for a tournament, to have those numbers...”

  

The grass surface for the FIFA World Cup final was installed on Thursday at the New Jersey stadium near New York, marking a major step forward as excitement builds for the tournament.

The final pitch is the product of months of specialist cultivation and research, grown off-site before being shipped across the U.S. to meet the competition’s strict playing requirements.

“It’s only justice that the best players on the planet hopefully get the best grass on the planet, and we’re trying to achieve that,” said David Graham, the senior pitch manager for world governing body FIFA.

The condition of the surface often comes under close examination during World Cups because it affects ball movement, with previous tournaments seeing players complain that the turf was too dry, too soft, or even slippery.

According to Graham, FIFA’s research - including testing conducted at a dedicated domed facility in Tennessee - will make sure the pitch meets the required standard.

“When it comes to delivering a field for the World Cup or for a tournament, to have those numbers, have all the thought process, it's been very beneficial,” he said.

“I couldn't do my job without any of that information.”

On Thursday, ground staff were working on the new turf at MetLife Stadium, which had been placed in dozens of rectangular sections inside the 82,500-seat venue.

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The stadium usually holds NFL games on artificial turf, but that surface has been taken out to make way for the natural grass. The grass was cultivated in North Carolina and transported hundreds of miles to New Jersey.

Beneath the World Cup pitch lies an 18-inch layer of sand equipped with its own ventilation and irrigation system.

A machine similar to a sewing device will stitch the rectangular turf sections together, closing the gaps to form one continuous grass surface.

Known as the New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament, MetLife will stage eight World Cup matches and is among 16 host venues spread across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Situated beside several major highways, the stadium has drawn criticism from U.S. lawmakers and supporter groups over travel costs. 

A return train ticket from New York is now priced at $105 (£77), reduced from the original $150 (£110) figure, but remains far above the usual $12.90 (£9.47) rate.