Pitch Perfect: Growing the Right Grass for the World Cup

Dr. John Sorochan is a professor of Turfgrass Science at the University of Tennessee. He studies how to grow and care for grass used in sports stadiums. While millions of fans watch the World Cup for the goals, Sorochan watches the field. To him, great grass is what makes the beautiful game truly beautiful.

FIFA, the group that runs the World Cup, requires that all matches be played on natural grass. This year's tournament has 104 games across 16 stadiums in three countries. That makes it the biggest World Cup ever. Getting the right grass into every stadium is a huge challenge.

Sorochan has helped lead the FIFA Pitch Research Project for five years, working with Michigan State University. The project tests how different types of grass grow in different conditions. Each stadium has its own climate and setup, so scientists must choose the best grass for each one. The grass at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey was even grown in North Carolina before being shipped in.

Five stadiums are covered by domes, which block natural sunlight. To solve this, FIFA built an indoor growing lab at the University of Tennessee. Inside, special grow lights shine for 12 to 14 hours a day to keep the grass alive. Sorochan says this is needed because the grass must stay healthy for up to 12 weeks during the tournament.

Sorochan's team also built a robot that stomps on the grass the same way a soccer player would. It moves row by row and creates a map showing where the surface is strong or weak. A consistent, even surface means players can move and control the ball more safely. The team also studies how the ball bounces, making sure it stays low enough for players to handle.