Atlanta Stadium — as Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be known during the World Cup — has undergone its final makeover to become compliant with FIFA stadium standards after FIFA-approved grass was installed this week.
The rollout of the natural playing surface began last Friday and took four days to complete, according to Atlanta Stadium pitch venue manager Stuart Wilson. Just more than three weeks before the opening match between Spain and Cape Verde on June 15, the venue now features a playing surface made from a blend of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass — natural sod reinforced with artificial fibers.
Wilson's five years with FIFA included the last World Cup in Qatar. Before that, he worked at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in North London, long regarded as home to one of the most pristine playing surfaces. The grass thrives in the stadium's carefully monitored indoor environment, where temperature controls and grow lights replicate natural sunlight — the result of years of research and testing at a Tennessee facility.
The pitch will be reserved solely for the eight competitive matches hosted in Atlanta, with no practices taking place before or between games. Mercedes-Benz Stadium has used artificial turf since opening in 2017, but in January it was temporarily replaced with natural grass to lay groundwork for the FIFA-regulated playing surface. Underneath the pitch is a full drainage system with sub-air technology and a gravel raft designed to regulate moisture and improve airflow.
All 16 host stadiums across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada will use natural grass pitches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with all surfaces required to meet FIFA's performance and safety standards. Wilson said the grass is mowed daily, gradually reducing the height so that by the time the games begin it will be at FIFA's required height of 23 millimeters.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution