Sorochan, a turfgrass science and management specialist at the University of Tennessee, was tasked with finding solutions for venues stretching from Canada to Mexico. The report says the project had to account for everything from cool northern conditions to the heat and humidity of cities such as Miami.
There was no universal answer. Warm-weather stadiums could rely on Bermuda grass, while colder venues needed blends suited to a different climate. The objective was not to make every field identical, but to ensure each surface delivered a comparable footballing experience.
The most difficult venues were reportedly those built over concrete, including stadiums designed primarily for American football. Their foundations were never intended to support a traditional football pitch, making drainage, sand depth and surface stability central concerns.
Sorochan’s work examined how different surfaces affected the ball’s bounce and the players’ interaction with the grass. The report says dozens of research projects helped establish the conditions required for a reliable, natural-grass surface.
The solution involved placing a sufficient sand layer and drainage system above the concrete. That structure was designed to prevent the foundation from dictating how the pitch felt underfoot.
For supporters, stadium readiness is often judged by appearance. For players, the real test comes through acceleration, changes of direction, passing speed and ball response.
Sorochan’s project highlights how much preparation takes place before the opening whistle. A tournament spread across a continent cannot depend on one simple formula; it needs careful local adaptation and rigorous testing.
The next storyline will come when the pitches face their first sustained run of matches. Only then will the years of planning be measured in the moments that matter most: clean footing, true bounces and football played without the surface becoming the headline.