MSU kicks off countdown to FIFA World Cup 2026

Friday, Dec. 5, signaled the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026 events when 48 participating teams will be divided into 12 groups of four. It also marks the countdown to unveiling MSU’s major role in the biggest sporting event in the world: providing the actual playing fields —world-class turfgrass — for the entire tournament.

At Michigan State University, over 70 years of turfgrass research excellence has led to the privilege of developing turfgrass for the 16 stadiums hosting FIFA World Cup 26 games and training facilities for participating teams from around the world. For the first time in history, the organization of the biggest soccer tournament on the planet will divide matches among three countries — Canada, Mexico and the U.S. — with 16 cities in total hosting matches.

Leading up to this global event, MSU has launched its turfgrass website as an online one-stop repository for everything related to MSU’s renowned turfgrass research and education program, including showcasing MSU’s collaboration with FIFA and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

The first time MSU worked with FIFA was for the 1994 World Cup, when Spartan researchers developed and delivered a novel system of portable turfgrass. This system provided a durable, consistent and low-maintenance playing surface for indoor stadium locations where natural grass could not thrive or would be difficult to maintain. This allowed venues to quickly convert their space for multipurpose events. The MSU portable turfgrass system is now the industry standard in stadiums and fields around the world.

“This summer, MSU turf research will take center stage at the world’s most-viewed sporting event, and we’re proud to take on this first-of-its-kind challenge alongside our University of Tennessee colleagues,” said Matthew Daum, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “The FIFA turfgrass project builds on our foundation of past successes but, more importantly, it paves the way for new innovations — and a new generation of world-leading Spartan turf talent.”

John “Trey” Rogers III, a professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, developed the revolutionary portable system.

“Beginning in 2021, scientists and students have partnered with the University of Tennessee and FIFA to research the complexities of providing safe and durable fields for World Cup 2026. Through the unprecedented funding levels provided by FIFA, just as before in 1994, we feel our contributions and efforts provided answers for the tournament’s needs as well as pathways forward for sports fields and turfgrass for years to come. It has been both a pleasure and humbling to participate,” Rogers said.

Key features of the new website include:

• MSU Turfgrass Legacy — MSU’s turfgrass program is over 70 years old with over 2,000 alumni currently working in stadiums, fields and golf courses around the world.
• Research and Impact — MSU’s past, present and future turfgrass research has changed the game and has established industry standards for growing turfgrass indoors and making it portable in stadiums around the world.
• FIFA World Cup 26 Grass Facts — Quick facts and figures about MSU’s turfgrass in collaboration with FIFA and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
• Meet the Experts — MSU’s team is led by John “Trey” Rogers, a world-renowned expert in turfgrass. Rogers and his team are leading the future of turfgrass research.
• Media Kit — Find current assets including images and videos with complete captions and credit information from MSU.
• In the News — Read about MSU’s turfgrass program in print, online, TV, video and podcast media sources.
• MSU Stories — Read stories created by MSU about the history and future of its turfgrass program.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 final draw took place on Dec. 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C., at the Kennedy Center.