EAST LANSING, Mich — Michigan State University is counting down the days until the kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That's because the university's world-renowned turfgrass research and education program is developing the turfgrass for the 16 locations being used for the event.

There will be 16 cities hosting matches at stadiums in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Additional training facilities in those cities will also have their turfgrass developed by Michigan State.

In developing the turfgrass, the university collaborated with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and FIFA.

“This summer, MSU turf research will take center stage at the world’s most-viewed sporting event, and we’re proud to take on this first-of-its-kind challenge alongside our University of Tennessee colleagu

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