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The science of World Cup grass

The science of World Cup grass

60-Second Science vor 3 Monaten

How scientists are engineering the perfect World Cup pitch—one so flawless that players never notice it

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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. Recommended
Reading: The Surprising Math and Physics behind the 2026 World Cup
Soccer Ball 2026 FIFA World Cup players and fans at risk of extreme
heat, climate scientists warn Join our Summer Reading Challenge
E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions,
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Today in Science, our daily newsletter. 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
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