The Grass Under the World Cup’s Greatest Players? It Was Grown Right Here in Jefferson County

When soccer fans around the world watch teams compete at FIFA World Cup 2026 matches playing out across the United States this summer, the grass beneath the players’ cleats may have roots right here in Jefferson County.

Kentucky Bluegrass grown by farmers in Madras and Culver is being used at multiple World Cup venues across the U.S., according to reporting by Central Oregon Daily. Oregon produces approximately 70 percent of the nation’s grass seed supply, and Jefferson County farms are a core part of that industry.

The Science Behind the Pitch

For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, eight of the 16 selected stadiums that previously had artificial turf surfaces were converted to natural grass. For cooler-climate venues, the pitch is an 84 percent Kentucky bluegrass and 16 percent perennial ryegrass blend, developed through a research partnership between Michigan State University and the University of Tennessee.

Oregon grass seed farmers grow Kentucky bluegrass under contract for sod producers, who then cultivate the finished turf over the course of approximately a year before it is installed at stadium sites. The seed grown in the Madras and Culver areas — some of the most productive grass seed ground in the state, thanks to the region’s volcanic soils, irrigation access, and high-desert sun — forms part of the supply chain that ultimately ends up under the feet of some of the world’s best footballers.

Hybrid stitching — reinforcing the natural turf with synthetic fibers for added stability under intense play — is used at several venues to ensure the pitches hold up through the tournament.

Local Roots, Global Stage

The grass seed industry is one of Jefferson County’s economic pillars, a quiet but significant driver of agricultural revenue that rarely makes headlines. The county’s fields around Culver and south Madras have been prime ground for Kentucky bluegrass seed production for decades, supplying commercial, residential, and athletic markets nationwide.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup — the first to feature 48 nations and the largest soccer event ever hosted in North America — runs from June 11 through July 19 across venues in Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, Seattle, and elsewhere. Group-stage matches are already underway.

For Jefferson County growers watching matches in the coming weeks, every perfectly-struck shot on a lush green pitch carries a small piece of home.