Want to kick a soccer ball on the same turf designed for the FIFA World Cup?
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Smith Center for International Sustainable Agriculture and the Department of Plant Sciences in the UT College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources are honored to have among our ranks John Sorochan, Distinguished Professor of Turfgrass Science and Management. He is currently conducting research for the field design team responsible for developing the turf used in the 2018 World Cup.
The event is being held June 25 at noon at the East Tennessee Research and Education Center (ETREC) Turf Plots, 3215 Alcoa Highway, Knoxville.
Sorochan and his team have replicated these turf plots at the East Tennessee Research and Education Center (ETREC) and will be hosting an informational presentation Monday, June 25that 12:00pm. During this presentation, guests will have the opportunity to kick a soccer ball around the same type of field as the world’s best professionals currently competing on the world stage! The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture celebrates 50 years of excellence in providing Real. Life. Solutions. through teaching, discovery and service. ag.tennessee.edu.
The 2026 World Cup in North America will begin in just 2,900 days. Hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, here’s a look at the cities and venues in the running to host matches in 2026:
United States (10 to be selected)
- Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium): 71,000 capacity
- Baltimore (M&T Bank Stadium): 71,006 capacity
- Boston (Gillette Stadium): 65,878 capacity (expandable to 70,000)
- Cincinnati (Paul Brown Stadium): 65,515 capacity (expandable to 67,402)
- Dallas (AT&T Stadium): 80,000 capacity
- Denver (Sports Authority Field at Mile High): 76,125 capacity (expandable to 77,595)
- Houston (NRG Stadium): 71,795 capacity (expandable to 72,220)
- Kansas City (Arrowhead Stadium): 76,416 capacity
- Los Angeles (Rose Bowl): 92,000 capacity
- Miami (Hard Rock Stadium): 64,767 capacity (expandable to 67,518)
- Nashville (Nissan Stadium): 69,143 capacity (expandable to 75,000)
- New York/New Jersey (MetLife Stadium): 82,500 capacity (expandable to 87,157)
- Orlando (Camping World Stadium): 60,219 capacity (expandable to 65,000)
- Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field): 69,176 capacity (expandable to 69,328)
- San Francisco (Levi’s Stadium): 68,500 capacity (expandable to 75,000)
- Seattle (CenturyLink Field): 69,000 capacity (expandable to 72,000)
- Washington, D.C. (FedExField): 82,000 capacity
Mexico (3 venues)
- Guadalajara (Estadio Akron): 46,232 capacity (expandable to 48,071)
- Mexico City (Estadio Azteca): 87,523 capacity
- Monterrey (Estadio BBVA Bancomer): 53,500 capacity
Canada (3 venues)
- Edmonton (Commonwealth Stadium): 56,302 capacity
- Montreal (Olympic Stadium): 61,004 capacity (expandable to 73,000)
- Toronto (BMO Field): 30,000 capacity (expandable to 45,500)