sports
NFL players urge permanent natural grass after World Cup installations; stadiums to revert to synthetic turf afterward
Players renewed calls on July 17, 2026, for natural grass surfaces after FIFA installed temporary grass fields in seven synthetic-turf NFL stadiums for the World Cup. An NFLPA survey found 92 percent of players prefer grass.
Jul 17, 5:29 PM·1m read5 sources
ADTH+2
theconversation.comAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
NFL players posted messages on July 17, 2026, calling for permanent natural grass surfaces in league stadiums and using the hashtag #WorthTheCost. The posts followed FIFA's installation of natural grass in seven of the 11 NFL venues that normally use synthetic turf ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Washington Commanders offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil wrote that stadiums can make grass work for the World Cup and should do the same for NFL players.
Green Bay Packers linebacker Zaire Franklin stated that the cost of doing nothing is paid for by players' bodies. Steelers cornerback Doneiko Slaughter and Arizona Cardinals cornerback Garrett Williams posted that it is time to make grass fields the standard.
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft noted that his team plays on the greatest surface in the NFL and that natural grass should be the only surface used.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen, and New York Jets defensive lineman Harrison Phillips were among the players who posted that day. The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is scheduled for MetLife Stadium. The NFL Players Association released a statement at the start of the World Cup urging owners to switch to natural grass.
On June 10 the union said the temporary grass fields represented a choice by certain owners to provide for soccer players what they refuse to do for NFL players. An NFLPA survey of more than 1,700 players found that 92 percent prefer natural grass, 6 percent have no preference, and 2 percent prefer synthetic turf.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle stated in June that players have made clear their preference for grass fields because the surfaces are better on their bodies and that the World Cup installations showed such fields are possible.
