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Pieces of 2026 World Cup final stadium grass go on sale
🇦🇷 Argentina /Sports

Pieces of 2026 World Cup final stadium grass go on sale

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Pieces of sod from the stadium designated for the 2026 World Cup final are now available for purchase as collector's items.
  • The FIFA store offers four tiers of these sod fragments, each limited to 2026 pieces, with prices ranging from $450 to $3,000.
  • Despite their high cost, players like Vinícius Júnior have criticized the stadium's turf, describing it as dry and difficult to play on.

Fans looking to own a piece of soccer history can now purchase fragments of the turf from the stadium slated to host the 2026 World Cup final. The collector's items are part of the FIFA store's memorabilia collection, offering a tangible connection to one of the world's biggest sporting events.

The collection features four tiers of sod pieces, with each edition limited to 2,026 units. The base version, priced at $450, is preserved in high-quality acrylic or resin and includes the tournament logo, match date, and final score. This edition is currently sold out. Higher-priced editions are available at $900 and $1,000, with a "Hero Edition" costing $3,000, which includes additional features beyond the sod fragment.

Each piece contains an original fragment of the iconic final pitch, making it a unique collector's item that celebrates one of the greatest sporting events in the world.

— FIFA product descriptionThe official description highlights the significance of the sod fragments as collector's items.

According to the FIFA product description, "Each piece contains an original fragment of the iconic final pitch, making it a unique collector's item that celebrates one of the greatest sporting events in the world." The turf itself was cultivated in North Carolina and installed at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in early May 2026.

However, the playing surface has drawn criticism from some players. Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior, among others, described the turf as dry and challenging during the tournament. "Due to the climate and heat, the grass dries out quickly and the game becomes very slow. We can't pick up rhythm," he noted after a match, explaining that it disrupts their preferred style of play. The collector's items, including the sod fragments, can only be shipped to addresses in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe, and will be dispatched after the final on July 19, 2026.

Due to the climate and heat, the grass dries out quickly and the game becomes very slow. We can't pick up rhythm. That complicates things because we want to play and move the ball from side to side. This interrupts our game.

— Vinícius JuniorThe Brazilian forward criticized the stadium's turf, explaining how it negatively impacts the game.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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