The field conditions for soccer matches at the Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium “have been marked by criticism from players and coaches” over the years, but that “should change in the 2026 World Cup” as the stadium updates its processes, according to Abraham Nudelstejer of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Since the stadium opened in 2009, the procedure for a soccer match is to “lay out a mat of natural grass installed on the concrete slab that makes up AT&T Stadium’s floor.” This alternative pitch has “caused injuries to players because the seams of the grass are often exposed and the players’ cleats get hooked on them.” The Cowboys are already “working on implementing a much more complex and expensive system that will allow them to plant natural grass for the 2026 World Cup games.” Cowboys EVP/Business Operations Chad Estis said that the Cowboys and FIFA are “working together to have the best field possible.” Estis: “We will have a system to grow the grass during the time period of the event, and that is very different from how we did it when we had other events.” Before AT&T Stadium can host any match of the upcoming World Cup, “improvements to the pitch are needed.” The field surface will be raised 4 to 6 feet to expand the width and comply with the official measurements established by FIFA. FC Dallas President and Dallas World Cup Bid Chair Dan Hunt said that the reconfiguration of AT&T Stadium’s pitch will be the “most significant expense the local committee will have to bear to host the tournament,” but he “didn’t provide an exact cost” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/1).
WHAT'S IN A NAME? In Boston, Michael Silverman notes the name of the local stadium where World Cup games will be played "is up in the air." The edifice currently known as Gillette Stadium "will identity-switch to either 'FIFA World Cup Stadium Boston' or 'Boston FIFA World Cup Stadium' while the tournament is being played." Silverman adds all 16 host stadiums "will have new monikers -- so that naming rights don’t clash with FIFA partners.” There have been reports over the last several months about friction between FIFA and host cities, as sports owners used to considerable power within their realms are "chafing with FIFA’s iron grasp of control and at times plodding pace of decision-making." President of Boston Soccer 2026 Mike Loynd said, “Branding is certainly something that’s really important to FIFA, and how that is managed and rolled out is very important because they rely on the funding of their sponsors to achieve what they achieve. That’s a pretty complicated mix for FIFA.” All Gillette signage, including the Gillette Stadium signs that sit atop the videoboard and overlook Patriot Place, as well as all other Patriots-related advertising, will be "either taken down or covered up for the duration of the games" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/2).
