NFLPA Uses FIFA World Cup Stage to Press Case for Natural Grass Surfaces

With the World Cup on the horizon in the US and NFL stadiums about to host the world’s game on the biggest stage for the first time since 1994, there is a decent chance that soccer event could have a positive impact on American football players. 

The NFLPA has begun a public push for natural grass in NFL stadiums, a surface that has become more of an exception than the rule.

With many of the same billionaire team owners set to profit from upcoming FIFA matches played on natural grass in their stadiums, the players’ union is increasingly sharpening its focus on the issue.

New union head JC Tretter, now in his second stint with the NFLPA, has begun making the case through social media and interviews, and that campaign is not expected to ease off this summer.

This World Cup comes at a critical time for NFL players, with owners very much pushing for an 18-game season and trying to marry that with their supposed pursuits of better “health and safety” for players. 

We continue to hear than many owners want the 18-games in place for 2028 and would love to have it negotiated before the start of the season.

Timing Is Everything

And while this would be expensive to employ for NFL games, the reality is clubs, even with the playoffs, and including the dwindling preseason schedule, would only host 14 games a year. 

Many venues host college and some high school games as well, but could opt not to if they are now shipping in grass surfaces as is being done in several World Cup settings.

Regardless, sources close to NFL owners are adamant that the league will consider many options that previously were considered non-starters, like players having easier access to universal health care after their careers, and if the NFLPA were to prioritize mandatory natural surfaces as a key tenet of those talks, some league sources believe it is not out of the realm of possibility they get it.

“There is a very strong appetite for the 18th game,” said one source who is familiar with how several owners are thinking about the issue, “and I anticipate the league being very open-minded about the requests and priorities the union presents.”

With the world’s eyes on North America for much of June and July, and the American media paying more attention to soccer than ever, expect the NFLPA to use the platform to push for the same grass being used in these games. 

The union will get some significant concessions if/when they acquiesce to the extra game. This could be among them.