Belgian Grass Technology to Cover World Cup 2026 Stadiums

A Belgian company has been contracted to provide hybrid grass technology for multiple stadiums at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States and Mexico, underscoring Europe’s dominance in high-performance football pitch engineering. GrassMax Systems, based in Zele, East Flanders, will reinforce natural grass pitches in Dallas, Houston, and Mexico City using a sophisticated fiber-injection technique that FIFA has mandated for all top-tier tournament venues since 2018.

A Specialized Niche

GrassMax Systems, founded in 2019 by Marc Vercammen, has rapidly established itself as a global leader in stitched hybrid sports fields. The company’s technology involves injecting approximately 20 million synthetic polypropylene fibers into natural grass at a depth of 18 centimeters, creating a surface that combines the playability of natural grass with the durability required for intensive tournament use.

According to VRT NWS, Vercammen noted that while American specialists excel at golf turf management, football pitch expertise remains concentrated in Europe. “FIFA hires many groundskeepers from Europe, because that expertise really lies with us. Americans know everything about golf courses, but nothing about football pitches,” Vercammen told Radio 1’s “De Ochtend” program.

The Challenge of American Stadiums

The 2026 World Cup presents unique logistical challenges. Unlike European football stadiums, many American venues are domed or multi-purpose facilities that typically use artificial turf. Eight of the 16 tournament stadiums will require conversion from artificial to natural grass, and several enclosed venues need specialized grow lights and ventilation systems to maintain pitch quality.

“In the US, there is artificial grass everywhere, so those fields need to be converted,” Vercammen explained. “Many fields are under a dome and are completely enclosed. Besides grass reinforcement, you also need grow lights to keep the natural grass alive and in top quality.”

GrassMax is no stranger to World Cup pressure. The company previously supplied hybrid grass for both the opening match at Al Bayt Stadium and the final at Lusail Stadium during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The company has also installed pitches at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu, Paris Saint-Germain’s training center, and numerous European club venues.

Belgian Expertise on the Ground

Beyond the technology itself, Belgian expertise is also present on the ground. Eddy Van Endert, the grounds manager of Belgian Pro League club KRC Genk, has been specifically recruited to manage the pitch at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas — the largest venue of the tournament with a capacity of 94,000 spectators.

As VRT NWS reported, KRC Genk confirmed that Van Endert was “specifically asked to travel to the US for this prestigious project,” calling it “a beautiful recognition of the expertise and quality present at KRC Genk, also off the field.” Van Endert will oversee a local team of greenkeepers from the group stage through to the semi-finals, with stars like Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands) set to play on his pitch.

A Growing Global Footprint

GrassMax Systems commands approximately 60% of the market among Belgian professional football clubs and has expanded rapidly across Europe and beyond. The company’s client list includes Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Anderlecht, Standard Liège, and the Belgian national team’s training center in Tubeke. Looking ahead, GrassMax is also involved in preparations for the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal.

Temporary Transformation

One notable aspect of the project is its temporary nature. After the World Cup concludes on July 19, the natural grass pitches will be removed and the stadiums will revert to artificial turf for American football and other multi-purpose events. For a few weeks, however, the world’s biggest sporting event will be played on surfaces engineered in a small Belgian town.

What to Watch

With the tournament kicking off on June 11, the final preparations are now underway across all 16 venues. The success of the hybrid grass installations — particularly in challenging domed environments — will be closely watched by FIFA and stadium operators worldwide, potentially shaping the future of tournament pitch management for years to come.