World Cup Revives Turf Debate

Afternoon Edition

June 11, 2026

As NFL stadiums swap out artificial turf for grass to host World Cup matches, the NFLPA is asking: Why not do the same for football players? The union says NFL players deserve the same playing surfaces being installed for soccer’s biggest event.

—David Rumsey

First Up

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Former Texas Tech star NiJaree Canady is pushing for a “fair and equitable contract” from AUSL. Read the story.

NFLPA Calls Out Owners As Stadiums Swap Turf for World Cup Grass

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The NFL’s grass vs. turf debate is back in the spotlight as the FIFA World Cup kicks off Thursday in Mexico, running through July 19 in New York.

As the biggest soccer tournament in the world is played in North America, 11 NFL venues will host matches, beginning with the U.S. men’s national team’s opener Friday at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Franchises in eight NFL markets have removed artificial turf playing surfaces from their stadiums and temporarily installed natural grass this summer due to FIFA’s requirements.

Atlanta: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Falcons); five group-stage matches, one round of 32, one round of 16, one semifinal
Boston: Gillette Stadium (Patriots); six group-stage matches, one round of 32, one quarterfinal
Dallas: AT&T Stadium (Cowboys); five group-stage matches, two round of 32, one round of 16
Houston: NRG Stadium (Texans); six group-stage matches, one round of 32, one round of 16
Los Angeles: SoFi Stadium (Rams and Chargers); five group-stage matches, two round of 32, one quarterfinal
New York: MetLife Stadium (Giants and Jets); five group-stage matches, one round of 32, one round of 16, World Cup final
Philadelphia: Lincoln Financial Field (Eagles); five group-stage matches, one round of 16
Seattle: Lumen Field (Seahawks); four group-stage matches, one round of 32, one round of 16

The official sponsored names of the stadiums have been removed for the World Cup, with venues simply referred to by their location (e.g., Mercedes-Benz Stadium is now Atlanta Stadium).

The USMNT is playing two group-stage matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.

NFLPA Concerns

Currently, half of the NFL’s 30 stadiums use natural grass fields, and the other half use some form of artificial turf or a hybrid blend.

The NFL Players Association called out the surface switches being made for the World Cup, revealing that 92% of NFL players said they prefer natural grass during a recent survey.

“The temporary installation of natural grass fields for the World Cup is a choice by certain NFL team owners to do for soccer players what they refuse to do for NFL players,” the NFLPA said in a statement. “It’s no longer a question of capability: the technology exists, the expertise exists and the resources exist to install the high-level grass fields that our players overwhelmingly prefer.

“We have seen the meaningful investments made to meet the standard for international athletes and global events. NFL players—who regularly compete on these fields, help fund these stadiums and whose work makes the league what it is today—deserve the same commitment to quality grass fields.”

Some NFL stadiums also temporarily installed grass surfaces during the FIFA Club World Cup last summer.

Unlocking 30 Years of Fandom

The most valuable asset in sports may not be a stadium or a roster. It may be the archive.

The Premier League and Microsoft are transforming 30 years of match footage, statistics, and editorial content into a discoverable, AI-powered fan experience. Through the Premier League Companion powered by Microsoft Copilot, supporters can instantly access historical context, live match insights, and personalized answers tailored to their interests.

Read how the Premier League is turning decades of content into a more accessible, engaging fan experience and what it could mean for the future of sports media and fan engagement.

ONE BIG FIG

Chiefs Tie Mahomes to New Home

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$239 million

That’s the amount of new money the Chiefs added to Patrick Mahomes’s contract, extending the star quarterback through the 2033 season. The reworked deal keeps Mahomes among the NFL’s highest-paid players and could be worth more than $522 million with incentives.

The extension also ties Mahomes to the Chiefs’ future off the field. He is now expected to be the face of Kansas City’s new $3 billion stadium when it opens in 2031, ensuring the team’s biggest star helps usher in its new home. Read the story.

SPONSORED BY STATE STREET INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SPY

Building Endurance Beyond the Court

As the best of women’s basketball convene in Chicago for the 2026 WNBA All-Star weekend, Front Office Sports will gather executives, athletes, and changemakers for an afternoon of conversation and connection exploring the future of the game and the business behind it.

Join us July 24 for Future of Sports: Investing in Athletes, presented by State Street Investment Management SPY.

This intimate event will feature thought-leadership discussions with league leaders, athletes, and financial decision-makers exploring the strategic moves fueling the growth of both major leagues and individual athletes—and how athletes are building long-term wealth, influence, and opportunity beyond the court through the support of financial advisers, investment partners, and others.

Space is limited. Request to attend for a chance to be in the room.

STATUS REPORT

Two Up, One Down, One Push

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New York City streets ⬇ While New York was abuzz after the Knicks completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history during Game 4 of the series, not everything was pretty. According to the NYPD, 56 people around Madison Square Garden were taken into custody during the game, with 15 of those being arrested. Additionally, 10 police officers were injured—including one who was hit in the head with a bottle.

Serena Williams ⬆⬇ After winning her first doubles match at the HSBC Championships at the Queen’s Club, the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s time at the tournament is done after her doubles partner, Victoria Mboko, withdrew from the tournament due to an injury. However, her comeback is far from over—she’s set to play doubles with Karolína Muchová at the Bad Homburg Open, while the official Wimbledon Instagram account hinted at a possible return to the Grand Slam.

Ja’Kobe Tharp ⬆ The 20-year-old Auburn runner broke the men’s 110-meter hurdles world record Wednesday at the NCAA outdoor track championships in Eugene, Ore. Tharp finished in 12.75 seconds, breaking former Tennessee runner Aries Merritt’s record of 12.80 seconds from 2012. Tharp will next compete at Friday’s final, where he will look to secure his second championship.

Polymarket ⬆ The prediction market has signed an exclusive partnership with Liga MX, adding the league to deals it already has with LaLiga, Serie A, and MLS. The deal, announced Thursday, positions Polymarket as the only betting option in Texas and California, where traditional sports betting remains illegal. Polymarket says it has seen $5.4 billion in soccer trading volume over the past year.