As UT Turfgrass Research Takes Global Stage at World Cup, Tennessee Is the Real Winner
UT’s turfgrass research has received global recognition for its role in creating the high-performing pitches for FIFA World Cup 26. Yet no one stands to benefit more from this research than the state of Tennessee, Chancellor Donde Plowman writes in an op-ed in the Knoxville News Sentinel.
UT’s research team, led by Chancellor’s Professor John Sorochan, have spent years conducting hundreds of experiments to identify the best grass varieties and installation methods to ensure all 16 stadiums have consistent playing surfaces. It’s work that has implications beyond this year’s tournament.
“The findings from this research will pay dividends across our state and around the world for generations to come,” Plowman writes. “This is a model for what a great public research university can offer: opportunity for students, solutions for industry, and returns for the state.”
Land-grant universities are best equipped to tackle complex projects like this one—finding innovative solutions and building collaborative partnerships, Plowman writes. Discoveries from this work will benefit athletes of all ages, fuel the state’s economy, and create more opportunities for students.