KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited Knoxville to see the organization’s exciting new project for the 2026 World Cup.
FIFA is teaming up with the University of Tennessee and Michigan State University to provide grass for all 16 host cities in the upcoming tournament.
“We’re organizing the World Cup. It has to have the best pitches,” Infantino stated passionately.
He was joined by experts, including John Sorochan, a respected professor of Turfgrass Science at UT, and other university leaders.
“We’ll bring Tennessee to the world,” Infantino concluded, highlighting the pride this partnership brings.
Sorochan is the mastermind behind this innovative project. He has been researching different types of grass and maintenance techniques for years, aiming for consistency across cities in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada.
“I began my research back in 2016, focusing on the World Cup in 2018,” Sorochan recalled.
His team has conducted various tests and used special machinery to ensure the grass feels the same for players everywhere.
“When players run and cut, it needs to feel uniform. The ball’s bounce should be the same, no matter the location,” he explained.
Sorochan is confident about the grass, which is adaptable to different climates from Mexico City to Miami and Vancouver.
“We want every team and player to have the same quality of grass, no matter where they play,” Infantino emphasized.
Sorochan has previously worked with UT Athletics to maintain the playing surface at Neyland Stadium, using that experience to inform his work on this project.
“We’ve had one of the best quality fields in college football, and it’s a great example of what we aim to achieve for other venues,” he mentioned, pointing to the importance of safety for both professional and youth sports.
As the FIFA Club World Cup approaches in June 2025, followed by the World Cup in 2026, Sorochan and his team are excited to showcase the expertise from the University of Tennessee.
“It’s surreal to think that five billion people will watch the World Cup, with a billion tuning in for the final match,” Sorochan noted, reflecting on the event’s massive global reach.
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FIFA,World Cup,Club World Cup
