AT&T Stadium transformed its artificial turf into natural grass under innovative grow lights to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
ARLINGTON, Texas — The artificial turf at Dallas Stadium is gone, replaced by a natural grass field grown under pink lights suspended from the stadium ceiling as preparations ramp up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Workers recently installed a blend of Kentucky bluegrass and ryegrass shipped from Denver, creating a temporary playing surface that sits 24 inches above the stadium’s concrete floor.
“It’s fantastic,” said Ewen Hodge, FIFA World Cup 2026 head of pitch infrastructure. “The moment you see the grass get laid down, it’s kind of like, yeah, right. It’s a special day.”
Hodge oversees every pitch used during the World Cup. Installation at the Arlington stadium, temporarily renamed Dallas Stadium during the tournament, began about two months ago with a crew of roughly 50 people.
The process started with the installation of irrigation and ventilation systems, followed by about 10 inches of sand to support the natural grass surface.
Because the stadium’s retractable roof does not provide enough sunlight for healthy grass growth, crews installed large grow lights suspended from the ceiling — a setup Hodge said had never been attempted before.
“Providing basically the heartbeat to the pitch to allow it to grow, given the absence of sun that we have in here,” Hodge said.
The field is also being reinforced with nylon fibers stitched into the grass using specialized machinery designed to improve durability during the tournament.
For AT&T Stadium officials, the project represents one of the most complex stadium transformations they have undertaken after years of pursuing World Cup matches.
“This one’s been a thing for sure,” said stadium general manager Tod Martin. “The scale and the magnitude of it, there’s nothing like it.”
The suspended grow lights can be raised and lowered between matches to maintain the field. Officials say the grass will be ready in time for the stadium’s first World Cup match next month.
“Put some goals in, get some lines on it and off we go,” Hodge said.
The natural grass field, however, will not become a permanent feature for the home of the Dallas Cowboys. After the World Cup concludes, the multi-use stadium plans to reinstall its traditional artificial turf for NFL games and other events.