The tournament requirement is a natural-grass surface reinforced with 5% synthetic fibre. Mullan says SIS Pitches uses a stitched system rather than laying a finished carpet, with the company involved in designing and constructing the field from the ground up.
That distinction matters. A hybrid pitch is intended to preserve the feel and movement of natural grass while offering greater resistance to the repeated demands of elite football. The report says the surfaces have not suffered noticeable ball-bounce problems or excessive wear to date, although that assessment will face tougher tests as the schedule develops.
Natural grass inside a major stadium is never simply a matter of watering and mowing. Shade, limited sunlight, airflow and changing temperatures can all affect recovery and consistency.
Mullan has also highlighted the absence of training sessions inside the stadiums on the eve of matches as a positive development. In the United States, he praised the experience of local grounds teams, whose daily work will be as important as the original construction.
The report says conditions at MetLife have remained within a manageable temperature range, but every venue presents its own challenge. A pitch that performs well in one stadium cannot automatically be replicated elsewhere.
SIS Pitches, founded by Mullan in 2001, has built its reputation through major European competitions and previous World Cups. The company reportedly constructed six of Russia’s 12 tournament pitches and worked on training grounds and stadiums in Qatar.
That history explains why the 2026 project carries expectations beyond the opening match. The same technology is also expected to feature at next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the 2034 tournament in Saudi Arabia. The next storyline will be whether these surfaces maintain their consistency when the World Cup reaches its decisive stages.