NFL stadiums swapped turf for grass ahead of 2026 World Cup. George Kittle thumping for permanent change: 'Clearly, we know it's possible'

Seven of the 11 NFL stadiums hosting 2026 FIFA World Cup games have temporarily replaced their synthetic turf with natural grass for the tournament. San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, publicly called for a permanent switch to grass after praising the surface at SoFi Stadium following the United States men's national team's first World Cup goal. Kittle posted on X that the grass at SoFi 'looks great' and questioned whether it could be maintained throughout the NFL season.