Pitch perfect: Developing natural grass for the World Cup

This year's World Cup is smashing viewership records, drawing unprecedented attention to soccer in the United States. As the tournament progresses towards its final match, expected to set another record, the focus for some is on the playing surface itself. Dr. John Sorochan, a distinguished professor in Turfgrass Science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, emphasizes the critical role of high-quality pitches. "The number one thing is the pitches, right? We need to have a good surface, a good canvas for the players to play on," he stated. He noted that while billions watch the games, the effort behind the fields often goes unnoticed. For five years, the University of Tennessee, in collaboration with Michigan State University, has been part of the FIFA Pitch Research Project. This year's tournament, the largest in history with 104 matches across 16 stadiums in three countries, requires all games to be played on natural grass, as mandated by FIFA. The diverse elevations and climates of the stadiums pose a significant challenge. Scientifically engineered sod is being transported from farms across the country, with real grass often laid over existing artificial turf. The grass for the final match at MetLife Stadium, for instance, was grown in North Carolina. In stadiums with domes, FIFA has funded an indoor growing facility at the University of Tennessee to test how grass responds to grow lights, which are used for 12-14 hours daily to sustain growth. Sorochan explained that without these lights, the grass would not survive the prolonged use required for the tournament. His team has developed a robot to simulate the impact of professional players' cleats, testing the grass's consistency and resiliency. They analyze heat maps to ensure the most uniform surface possible, crucial for World Cup play.

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The number one thing is the pitches, right? We need to have a good surface, a good canvas for the players to play on.