The 2026 FIFA World Cup has showcased a series of matches on pristine natural grass fields, prompting San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle to voice his concerns about the NFL's ongoing reliance on turf. As of Tuesday morning, the tournament has featured 44 matches, with the festivities continuing until July 19.

Kittle expressed his frustration during an appearance on Pardon My Take, highlighting that if venues like MetLife Stadium and SoFi Stadium can accommodate grass for the World Cup, there should be no reason for NFL teams to not adopt the same practice year-round. He stated, "If you can put grass in MetLife and in SoFi, I think you could do that year-round if you really gave a s--t."

According to Kittle, players overwhelmingly prefer grass surfaces:

• 90% of players would choose grass over turf.
• Only 10% express indifference.

The debate surrounding grass versus turf has intensified, particularly concerning safety, as several players have suffered significant injuries on turf fields. Malik Nabers, a wide receiver for the New York Giants, notably tore his ACL while playing on the turf at MetLife Stadium, which was recently updated but still under scrutiny.

Kittle believes the reluctance to switch to grass surfaces stems from financial considerations, as maintaining natural grass is more costly. He argued, "So, why not just spend a couple extra million dollars, which we know they all have, to just grass all the fields? It doesn't seem that difficult."

As the World Cup continues to highlight the benefits of natural grass, Kittle's comments may reignite discussions about player safety and the quality of playing surfaces in the NFL.