Current:Home > FinanceFIFA aims for the perfect pitch at 2026 World Cup following fields called a disaster at Copa America-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
FIFA aims for the perfect pitch at 2026 World Cup following fields called a disaster at Copa America
View Date:2024-12-23 16:53:36
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The 2026 World Cup is coming to North America with an ambitious plan, expanding the field by 50% and spreading the soccer spectacle over 16 cities in three countries with multiple climates and elevations.
FIFA, aiming to create the perfect pitch for every venue, partnered with turf experts at the University of Tennessee and Michigan State University to research and develop the best surfaces for the tournament.
When the World Cup begins in less than two years with 48 teams playing 104 matches in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, no one wants the field — or pitch, as many soccer aficionados call it — to be a topic of conversation like it was earlier this summer for a different major tournament.
The Copa America, which South American soccer body CONMEBOL organizes every four years, was dogged by problems with shaky surfaces.
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez called the grass field that replaced artificial turf a “disaster,” after beating Canada in the opener on June 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Criticism continued with other teams and coaches early in the tournament.
“FIFA has high expectations and demands that we can’t have any any failures,” John Sorochan, professor of turfgrass science and management at Tennessee, said recently in a telephone interview. “That’s why they’re supporting so much research and preparation so that they don’t have what happened at Copa, and the embarrassment of what CONMEBOL had.”
Like at this year’s Copa America, some football stadiums — including some with a roof — will host games at the next World Cup.
Sorochan, along with his mentor and former professor at Michigan State, Trey Rogers, addressed a similar challenge three decades ago when the World Cup first visited the United States in 1994 and games were played indoors at the Pontiac Silverdome in suburban Detroit.
“One of the easiest decisions I have made around this tournament so far was the partnering of UT and MSU universities,” said Alan Ferguson, FIFA26 director of infrastructure and technical services. “Both already had world-leading reputations, both already led by world-leading turf professors. I didn’t want to reinvent the wheel — it was already here.”
Climate change may be an additional variable, especially with games stretching from Mexico to Canada, and the turf experts are considering several varieties of surfaces to address it.
“While new varieties of grasses have not been bred to specifically address the challenges of the World Cup, turfgrass breeding efforts over the past 20 years have released new grass varieties that have improved heat, drought, disease and wear tolerance,” Sorochan said earlier this week.
Tennessee created what it calls a shade house to replicate an indoor stadium. Michigan State, meanwhile, has a 23,000-square-foot slab of asphalt to develop the concept of laying turf grown on plastic instead of soil on stadium surfaces.
Rogers and his team test how the natural surface responds to a ball bouncing and when cleats make contact.
A couple months ago at Copa America, Martínez said the ball jumped off the field as if it was a springboard.
In two years, Rogers said the goal is to not hear anyone discussing the playing surface at the World Cup.
“If nobody mentions the field,” he said, “we know we’ve done our job.”
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
veryGood! (77)
Related
- Rita Ora pays tribute to Liam Payne at MTV Europe Music Awards: 'He brought so much joy'
- Taylor Swift's '1989 (Taylor's Version)' sets Spotify music streaming records for 2023
- Russians commemorate victims of Soviet repression as a present-day crackdown on dissent intensifies
- These 15 Secrets About Halloweentown Are Not Vastly Overrated
- Federal judge orders Oakland airport to stop using ‘San Francisco’ in name amid lawsuit
- Francis Ngannou knocks down heavyweight champ Tyson Fury, who escapes with split decision
- Matthew Perry's Friends Family Mourns His Death
- Fans debate Swift's nod to speculation of her sexuality in '1989 (Taylor's Version)' letter
- Cameron Brink set to make Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut
- Sailor missing at sea for 2 weeks found alive in life raft 70 miles off Washington coast
Ranking
- Women’s baseball players could soon have a league of their own again
- NC State coach Dave Doeren rips Steve Smith after Wolfpack win: 'He can kiss my ...'
- 2 dead, 18 injured in Tampa street shooting, police say
- Federal prosecutors seek to jail Alabama lawmaker accused of contacting witness in bribery case
- Dogecoin soars after Trump's Elon Musk announcement: What to know about the cryptocurrency
- Mexico raises Hurricane Otis death toll to 43 and puts missing at 36 as search continues
- 'Friends' star Matthew Perry dies at age 54, reports say
- Thousands of Ukrainians run to commemorate those killed in the war
Recommendation
-
Love Actually Secrets That Will Be Perfect to You
-
North Dakota police officer fired for injuring suspect gets probation after changing plea
-
Israel is reassessing diplomatic relations with Turkey due to leader’s ‘increasingly harsh’ remarks
-
Fans debate Swift's nod to speculation of her sexuality in '1989 (Taylor's Version)' letter
-
Why Outer Banks Fans Think Costars Rudy Pankow and Madison Bailey Used Stunt Doubles Amid Rumored Rift
-
Former NHL player Adam Johnson dies after 'freak accident' during game in England
-
JAY-Z says being a beacon, helping out his culture is what matters to him most
-
Matthew Perry's Friends Family Mourns His Death