Grass vs. turf has long been debated, with MetLife Stadium "taking center stage" after Jets QB Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles in last season’s openerGetty Images
N.Y. Giants President and CEO John Mara said that a grass field "will be put in for the 2026 World Cup" at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, according to Carroll & Anzidei of THE ATHLETIC. The grass being installed will be a "different type of grass" than would be used for American football, which is played at the stadium by the Giants and Jets. Mara said that "other changes will be in store" for the stadium ahead of the World Cup. Mara: “We’re talking about some pretty significant renovations at some point but our plans are not finalized on that yet. They have to take out some seats in the lower level in order to fit the field in. And we’ll have to put temporary seats in.” He added that those seats "will be back in for the football season." There has long been a debate on grass versus turf with MetLife Stadium "taking center stage" after Jets QB Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles in last season’s opener. Mara though said that they are "not yet at a point where they could have a safe playing field late in season on a grass field." Mara: “With the amount of events in our building, particularly during the football season, having two teams there and how many times last year we had back-to-back games where it rained during the first game, I can’t imagine what a grass field would look like on that second day" (THE ATHLETIC, 3/25).
