As FIFA takes over 11 NFL stadiums for the upcoming World Cup, venues that normally feature artificial turf for football are set to install premium natural grass for soccer matches. The NFL Players Association issued a public reminder that team owners will provide athletes in another sport with the playing surface that NFL players overwhelmingly prefer.
“The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in one month, and work is underway to install fresh grass surfaces in NFL stadiums for the world’s top soccer players,” the NFLPA posted on social media Monday. “NFL players have spent years advocating for safer, high-quality grass fields at their place of work, but when the World Cup is over, most of these stadiums will revert back to turf for the NFL season. Our players deserve workplaces that prioritize their preference, protect them against the weekly wear and tear of the game, and support their long-term health and performance.”
The league maintains that injury rates on grass and artificial turf are comparable. However, this argument overlooks the fact that players consistently prefer grass, regardless of statistical comparisons. Natural grass absorbs the forces generated by the human body during play, while turf surfaces send those forces back into players’ joints and bones. Anyone who has ever competed on artificial turf understands the difference the next morning when trying to get out of bed.
The reality is that owners hosting World Cup matches are installing grass because FIFA demanded it—they simply had no choice. For NFL games, they do have a choice, and many continue to select a surface that is cheaper to maintain and easier to manage when scheduling other revenue-generating events.
This has become a collective bargaining issue. Owners will likely hold firm on maintaining the current number of artificial turf fields, meaning players will need to concede something significant in exchange for natural grass. That trade-off isn’t universal—the Bills’ new stadium will feature grass because the organization acknowledges its benefits. But the willingness to prioritize player welfare over the bottom line remains rare, and it won’t change until owners have no alternative. The NFLPA will likely need to make major concessions to achieve the working conditions its members desire.
