The FIFA World Cup 2026 is just about over, with the 104th match- between Argentina and Spain- set to decide the winner of a tournament that swept through the United States, Canada, and Mexico for over a month, at a fever pitch arguably unprecedented for “the beautiful game” in this country. Thousands of Americans who are far more used to football instead celebrated futbol alongside visitors from 47 other countries, with 11 NFL stadiums hosting matches.
Now with less than two months before the kickoff of the NFL’s regular season, those stadiums are getting back into football shape. But not everyone is ready to entirely let go of the soccer setup, particularly at venues where the everyday artificial turf was temporarily covered with real grass.
Several players are taking to social media, requesting that the NFL’s owners keep the natural-grass playing surfaces that FIFA required for World Cup action. San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle has been among those leading the charge, citing player safety. Kittle is featured in a June post from the NFL Players Association that reads:
“We’ve made it clear that we prefer grass fields. We know it’s better on our bodies. And clearly, we know it’s possible based on everything that went into putting down grass fields for the World Cup in each stadium. At this point, it comes down to the NFL making it a priority and choosing to invest in us as players, because our bodies are our business, which they capitalize on!”
That post included the hashtag #WorthTheCost. The motto is now being picked up and used in posts from other players, too, including Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, Packers tight end Tucker Kraft, Commanders offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil, Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, and Panthers linebacker Devin Lloyd.
Two former Cowboys are also part of the movement. Defensive lineman Solomon Thomas and defensive tackle Neville Gallimore made posts of their own Friday, using the boilerplate language that was seen elsewhere:
“If stadiums can make grass work for the World Cup, they can make it work for NFL players. We’re #WorthTheCost”
Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb previously spoke out about his preference for real grass.
But Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has already made it clear where he stands, as crews have already begun tearing up the pitch that had been grown in Colorado and installed at AT&T Stadium. That name is once again prominently displayed on the facade of the building after tarps covering the longtime corporate sponsor were also removed following “Dallas Stadium”‘s final match between France and Spain on July 14.
Truckloads of base material had to be brought in to raise the level of the entire playing surface to accommodate a wider field for soccer, even necessitating the dismantling and partial burial of the stadium’s famous field-level suites. And to keep the grass alive for the duration of the tournament, an intricate system of electric grow lights was strung from the stadium roof and lowered into place before and after the nine games hosted in Arlington.
Keeping the grass alive indoors came at a not-inconsequential price tag, to be sure. But it proved doable, and that means- to the players, at least, as well as many observers- that the process could conceivably be duplicated for a football season.
Stadium owners are quick to point out that their buildings host significantly more events than just a dozen or so NFL games in a calendar year. A grass field would never survive the rock concerts, RV and boat shows, monster truck rallies, heavyweight fights, and other high-profile moneymakers that a venue like AT&T Stadium stages regularly. (Not to mention the college and high school football games that also share the field every fall.)
But the players have a valid point, too, even if the owners’ party line is that injuries are no more common on turf than grass. Even if that were true, the players’ stated preference should carry real weight.
The issue won’t go away now simply because the World Cup has packed up and gone back home. The debate will no doubt rear its ugly head just as soon as the first NFL star blows out an ACL while playing on an artificial field that had, not so long before, been covered in lush and forgiving grass for the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Former Cowboys among NFL players asking stadium owners to keep World Cup grass
Reporting by Todd Brock, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Todd Brock, Cowboys Wire | USA TODAY Network
