Dr. Trey Rogers, led a team from the two universities in developing the turf being used in all 16
2026 FIFA World Cup stadiums. (Photo courtesy of MSU)
Recently, I happened to read an article about a Michigan State University turf management professor who led a team of colleagues and graduate students in partnership with a similar team from the University of Tennessee.
Their mission: Identify the appropriate grass types, design a growth plan, and oversee the growth of the turf that comprises the 16 pitches (e.g. fields) being used for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
That MSU professor? Dr. Trey Rogers.
What’s even cooler, is that he was part of a similar team leading up to the last time the World Cup was contested in North America (USA 1994) to develop and execute a plan to grow grass in the Pontiac Silverdome (the only domed facility used for that World Cup). And his counterpart at Tennessee, Dr. John Sorochan, was a student member of that 1994 team.
Even more fortuitous for me – and you! – was the fact that MSU had a press kit on Dr. Rogers as well as a person to contact for media requests.
With that, in this episode, I go deep into turf talk (playing from the rough, so to speak😉) with Dr. Rogers, who nearly 20 years ago authored book on growing grass Lawn Geek: Tips and Tricks for the Ultimate Turf from the Guru of Grass.
I suspect you’ll find this Conversation as fascinating as I did as Dr. Rogers discusses both 1994’s successful endeavor as well as the current one which he watches play out – quite literally – on his television every day.
