The "grass" lives on the football field: The evolution journey from the World Cup's penalty shootout to artificial turf
In the second round of Group E of the 2026 USA-Canada-Mexico World Cup, a thrilling match took place at the Toronto Stadium. In the first half, the Ivory Coast team scored the first goal and took the lead. It wasn't until the 68th minute that the German team equalized the score. Just in the 94th minute of the extra time, the German team completed the game-winning goal and ultimately won 2-1 against the Ivory Coast. This victory enabled the German team to secure a two-match winning streak and advance one round earlier to the 32-team stage, ending the curse of being eliminated from the group stage in two consecutive World Cups.
The stage of this intense confrontation - the Toronto Stadium - actually reflects a highly debated topic of this World Cup: the competition between artificial turf and natural grass. Among the 16 host stadiums for this World Cup, 8 use artificial turf on a regular basis, including the New York Metropolitan Life Stadium where the final was held. To meet the strict standards set by FIFA that require the use of natural grass, these stadiums spent a huge amount of money temporarily laying natural grass, with the investment in grass renovation alone exceeding tens of millions of dollars. The mixed-structured grass turf used for the final field is particularly remarkable - approximately 95% is specially cultivated Bermuda natural grass, mixed with 5% artificial grass fibers for reinforcement, and has multiple layers of special structures at the bottom, completely solving the defects of previous temporary grass, such as being prone to damage and having a "bouncy effect". However, the controversy has not subsided. Many players criticized that some venues "feel more like artificial turf", being too hard. This phenomenon has also sparked widespread discussions among NFL players - since the World Cup can lay qualified natural grass on artificial turf, why doesn't the league promote a comprehensive renovation?
In fact, artificial turf has long ceased to be an "alternative" for football fields. The global artificial turf market is expected to reach approximately $6.54 billion by 2025 and $11.98 billion by 2032. Beyond the football field domain, the application scope of artificial turf is expanding rapidly: Tennis courts have widely adopted artificial turf fields that comply with the International Tennis Federation standards, providing uniform rebound and anti-slip properties; Golf courses have introduced artificial turf greens that simulate the ball speed and foot feel of natural greens; Courtyard landscape grass and rooftop green turf have gained popularity due to their low maintenance requirements and resistance to foot traffic; Colorful artificial turf is also used in commercial landscapes and event venues, balancing functionality and appearance. With continuous innovations in synthetic fiber materials, filling systems, and shock-absorbing padding, as well as the application of environmentally friendly and recyclable materials, artificial grass is evolving from a "substitute for natural grass" to a comprehensive solution covering sports, landscapes, and leisure scenarios. It is foreseeable that in the future, football fields will no longer have only one "color" of grass.
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