Football fans will soon have the chance to own a piece of the grass from the 2026 World Cup final stadium pitch—if they are willing to pay hundreds of dollars for it.
FIFA, the governing body of football, announced that it will sell segments of the pitch as souvenirs. Prices for these pieces of turf will start at $450 and go up to $3,000 for the most expensive option. FIFA hopes to make a lot of money after the tournament ends. In fact, a report by The Athletic suggests the organization could earn over $11 million from these sales.
The souvenir turf will be preserved in premium acrylic plastic and will come with a USB keepsake. For the highest price of $3,000, buyers will receive a three-by-three-inch (7.6-by-7.6-centimetre) piece of grass. This special package also includes a gold-etched replica ticket, a mini replica match ball, and a crystal-cut World Cup trophy. There are three other pricing levels available: $450, $900, and $1,200. To keep the items exclusive, FIFA will sell no more than 2,026 pieces in any single tier.
The turf itself was grown at a specialized farm in North Carolina. It was installed at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, which was renamed the New Jersey New York Stadium for the World Cup. MetLife Stadium usually uses artificial grass for American football games, but FIFA replaced it with real turf for the tournament. Players and coaches have previously criticized the quality of this temporary grass field.
FIFA has already faced criticism for charging high prices for the tournament in the United States. For example, regular tickets for the final cost up to $32,970, while hospitality tickets cost up to $34,500.
FIFA will only ship the turf souvenirs to addresses in the United States and Europe. Shipping will start after the final match is completed.