December 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.
For the full article by Kim Ward and Emilie Lorditch visit MSU Today.