FIFA plans to sell World Cup final turf after 2026 tournament
Souvenir pieces of the final pitch will start at $450, with The Athletic reporting FIFA could make more than $11 million from the sale.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
FIFA will sell sections of the 2026 World Cup final pitch after the tournament ends, adding another revenue stream from the showpiece match. The plan matters because the governing body is already facing scrutiny over high prices tied to the tournament in the United States, according to Reuters and The Associated Press.
FIFA announced Saturday that pieces of turf from the final at New Jersey New York Stadium will be offered as memorabilia, with prices beginning at $450. The stadium, normally known as MetLife Stadium, was renamed by FIFA for the World Cup.
The sale could bring in more than $11 million, The Athletic reported. FIFA’s official store says orders will be shipped only after the 2026 World Cup final has been played.
Four souvenir tiers
FIFA is offering four price levels for the pitch collectibles: $450, $900, $1,200 and $3,000. The governing body says no more than 2,026 pieces will be available in any one tier.
The top tier includes a three-by-three-inch piece of turf, equivalent to 7.6 by 7.6 centimetres, along with a gold-etched replica ticket, a miniature replica World Cup ball and a crystal-cut World Cup trophy, according to FIFA.
FIFA’s store describes the product as a preserved fragment of the final playing surface set in acrylic and paired with a USB keepsake. The store says each item includes an authenticity film and comes in a hinged presentation box.
The site lists one segment size as 17.5 by 17.5 by 17.5 but does not state the unit of measurement. FIFA says shipping will be available only to addresses in the United States and Europe.
Pitch has drawn criticism
Reuters and The Associated Press reported that players and coaches have criticised the quality of the field at the New Jersey venue. MetLife Stadium usually has an artificial surface for NFL games played by the New York Giants and New York Jets.
For the World Cup, new natural grass fields were installed at all venues to keep playing conditions consistent, according to the report. That included stadiums that usually use artificial turf in Seattle, Atlanta, East Rutherford, Vancouver, Arlington and Inglewood.
The Athletic reported that the grass for the final was grown at a turf farm in North Carolina. There has been no indication of what will happen to the grass fields at World Cup venues that are not hosting the final, according to the report.
High prices around the final
The turf sale comes alongside expensive match and hospitality tickets. FIFA is selling regular tickets for the final for as much as $32,970, while hospitality tickets that include food and drinks are listed at $34,500 and $32,500, according to Reuters and The Associated Press.
The final turf sale keeps the focus on FIFA’s pricing strategy for the 2026 tournament. FIFA has not said in the announcement how it will use the money from the memorabilia sale.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.