FIFA has found a fresh way to make money from the 2026 World Cup final, and it involves the grass the players will run on. The governing body said on Saturday that it will cut up the pitch from the final and sell the pieces as memorabilia, starting at $450 each. A report in The Athletic put FIFA's likely take at more than $11 million.
What $450 Actually Buys
Each piece is a fragment of the playing surface sealed inside premium acrylic and paired with a USB keepsake. FIFA's official store calls it "a genuine piece of football history" and says every unit holds "an original fragment of the iconic final playing surface." The acrylic block carries an authenticity film and ships in a hinged box with spot UV detailing.
The store lists each turf segment as 17.5 by 17.5 by 17.5, but it does not say whether the figure is in inches, centimetres, or millimetres. Orders will not ship until after the final, and FIFA will only deliver to addresses in the United States and Europe.
Four Price Tiers, Each Capped at 2,026 Pieces
The entry tier starts at $450, followed by versions at $900 and $1,200. The top tier costs $3,000 and adds a gold-etched replica ticket, a miniature replica World Cup ball, and a crystal-cut World Cup trophy. No more than 2,026 pieces will be sold in any single tier.
The premium package is built around a three-by-three-inch square of grass, roughly 7.6 by 7.6 centimetres, which makes it a steep price for a small patch of turf.
Players Have Already Criticised the Surface
The turf going up for sale has not won everyone over. Players and coaches have complained about the quality of the field at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which usually runs an artificial surface for NFL games played by the New York Giants and Jets. FIFA renamed the venue New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament.
The grass for the final was grown at a turf farm in North Carolina, according to the report. New natural-grass fields were installed at every World Cup venue for the event, including stadiums that normally use artificial surfaces in Seattle, Atlanta, East Rutherford, Vancouver, Arlington, and Inglewood. There is no word yet on what happens to the pitches from the venues that do not host the final.
The Sale Fits a Wider Pricing Pattern
FIFA has drawn criticism through the tournament for high prices in the United States. Regular tickets for the final are listed at up to $32,970, while hospitality packages that include food and drinks are priced at $34,500 and $32,500. The turf sale carries that approach past the final whistle, turning the field itself into one more product.
