Arguably the world’s biggest sporting event will have major Northern Colorado roots, somewhat literally.
While Colorado itself may not be hosting any 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, Centennial State grass will.
FIFA chose Platteville’s Green Valley Turf sod company to provide the grass for World Cup pitches at the Atlanta, Houston and Dallas sites.
All three venues (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, NRG Stadium and Arlington’s AT&T Stadium) have full-air retractable roofs. World Cup matches in those stadiums will be played fully indoors due to the summer heat.
That requires grass grown in a cooler climate to match the cooler indoor temperatures.
“It seems a little strange that the grass is coming all the way from Colorado, but those buildings will be climate-controlled at 70 degrees throughout the whole tournament, so they needed a cool-season grass which thrives in our environment that’s near impossible to grow closer to where the venues are,” Green Valley Turf owner Joe Wilkins III told CNN.
The family-owned business that was founded in 1962 grows sod, turf and grasses, among other sod-related services, at its locations in Platteville and Littleton.
Green Valley Turf has experience in the sporting realm, working with the Denver Broncos, Denver Summit FC, the Colorado Rockies and the Kansas City Royals in past projects.
The grass for these World Cup venues was grown at the Platteville location and shipped off in May. Each pitch is 82,000 square feet and nearly 2 acres, requiring 24 semi-trucks to haul the grass to each venue.
Combined, the three sites with Colorado-grown grass will host nearly a quarter (24 out of 104) of the total 2026 World Cup matches.
The grass is a proprietary mix of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial rye and was developed through a $5 million FIFA-funded research partnership between Michigan State University and the University of Tennessee.
So when you’re watching the World Cup this summer, there’s a good chance you’ll be seeing the world’s best soccer players kicking, running, sliding and scoring on turf grown under the Northern Colorado sun.
- June 15 (noon ET/10 a.m. MT): Spain vs. Cape Verse
- June 18 (noon/10 a.m.): Czech Republic vs. South Africa
June 21 (noon/10 a.m.): Spain vs. Saudi Arabia
June 24 (6 p.m./4 p.m.): Morocco vs. Haiti
June 27 (7:30 p.m./5:30 p.m.): Democratic Republic of Congo vs. Uzbekistan
July 1 (noon/10 a.m.): Winner of Group L vs. top 3rd place team from Groups E/H/I/J/K
July 7 (noon/10 a.m.): Round of 16, teams TBD
July 15 (3 p.m./1 p.m.): Semifinal, teams TBD
June 15 (noon ET/10 a.m. MT): Spain vs. Cape Verse
June 18 (noon/10 a.m.): Czech Republic vs. South Africa
June 21 (noon/10 a.m.): Spain vs. Saudi Arabia
June 24 (6 p.m./4 p.m.): Morocco vs. Haiti
June 27 (7:30 p.m./5:30 p.m.): Democratic Republic of Congo vs. Uzbekistan
July 1 (noon/10 a.m.): Winner of Group L vs. top 3rd place team from Groups E/H/I/J/K
July 7 (noon/10 a.m.): Round of 16, teams TBD
July 15 (3 p.m./1 p.m.): Semifinal, teams TBD
- June 14 (4 p.m. ET/2 p.m. MT): Netherlands vs. Japan
June 17 (4 p.m./2 p.m.): England vs. Croatia
June 22 (1 p.m./11 a.m.): Argentina vs. Austria
June 25 (7 p.m./5 p.m.): Japan vs. Sweden
June 27 (10 p.m./8 p.m.): Jordan vs. Argentina
June 30 (1 p.m./11 a.m.): Runner-up Group E vs. runner-up Group I
July 3 (2 p.m./noon): Runner-up Group D vs. runner-up Group G
July 6 (3 p.m./1 p.m.): Round of 16, teams TBD
July 14 (3 p.m./1 p.m.): Semifinal, teams TBD
June 14 (4 p.m. ET/2 p.m. MT): Netherlands vs. Japan
June 17 (4 p.m./2 p.m.): England vs. Croatia
June 22 (1 p.m./11 a.m.): Argentina vs. Austria
June 25 (7 p.m./5 p.m.): Japan vs. Sweden
June 27 (10 p.m./8 p.m.): Jordan vs. Argentina
June 30 (1 p.m./11 a.m.): Runner-up Group E vs. runner-up Group I
July 3 (2 p.m./noon): Runner-up Group D vs. runner-up Group G
July 6 (3 p.m./1 p.m.): Round of 16, teams TBD
July 14 (3 p.m./1 p.m.): Semifinal, teams TBD
- June 14 (1 p.m. ET/11 a.m. MT): Germany vs. Curacao
June 17 (1 p.m./11 a.m.): Portugal vs. Democratic Republic of Congo
June 20 (1 p.m./11 a.m.): Netherlands vs. Sweden
June 23 (1 p.m./11 a.m.): Portugal vs. Uzbekistan
June 26 (8 p.m./6 p.m.): Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia
June 29 (1 p.m./11 a.m.): Winner Group C vs. Runner-up Group F
July 4 (1 p.m./11 a.m.): Round of 16, teams TBD
June 14 (1 p.m. ET/11 a.m. MT): Germany vs. Curacao
June 17 (1 p.m./11 a.m.): Portugal vs. Democratic Republic of Congo
June 20 (1 p.m./11 a.m.): Netherlands vs. Sweden
June 23 (1 p.m./11 a.m.): Portugal vs. Uzbekistan
June 26 (8 p.m./6 p.m.): Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia
June 29 (1 p.m./11 a.m.): Winner Group C vs. Runner-up Group F
July 4 (1 p.m./11 a.m.): Round of 16, teams TBD
Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: These 2026 FIFA World Cup grass pitches have their roots in Colorado
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