FIFA puts World Cup final grass on sale for $450 as players complain about the pitch
FIFA is offering fragments of the MetLife Stadium field used for the July 19 World Cup final, priced at $450 per acrylic-encased piece, as players including Julian Nagelsmann and Vinicius Junior have criticised the playing surface.
FIFA's online shop lists fragments of the final pitch
At its online store, FIFA is advertising small pieces of the grass that will be used for the World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The base product costs $450 (around 394 euros) and consists of a 17.5-cm acrylic cube encasing a section of turf, accompanied by a USB stick containing an authenticity film.
Own a genuine piece of football history with an authentic 2026 FIFA World Cup Piece of the pitch, permanently preserved in a premium acrylic with a USB keepsake.
The listing does not specify whether the turf segment itself is measured in inches, centimetres, or millimetres. FIFA will ship orders only after the final has been played.
Keep Stub offers four limited editions, all capped at 2026 units
The collectibles are manufactured by the British company Keep Stub. In addition to the standard piece sold directly by FIFA, Keep Stub's website lists three pricier variants: 788 euros, 1,050 euros, and a 2,627-euro "Hero Edition." Each of the four editions is limited to exactly 2,026 copies. If all sell out, revenues would surpass 9.8 million euros.
- Standard (FIFA)
- 394 euros
- 788-euro edition
- 788 euros
- 1050-euro edition
- 1050 euros
- Hero Edition
- 2627 euros
The Hero Edition includes a larger grass square (7.62 cm by 7.62 cm), a gold-engraved metal commemorative ticket, a miniature replica of the final match ball, and a crystal trophy. Cheaper versions contain a 6.35-cm-square grass fragment.
Players and coaches have lambasted the surface
The MetLife pitch, normally an artificial turf for NFL games, was laid in early May from a sod farm in North Carolina. During the group stage, former Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann described the grass as too dry and blunt, making it hard to play on. Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior complained that the dry surface slowed passing and disrupted fluid combination play. The German national team also voiced dissatisfaction after their loss to Ecuador.
Orders ship only to three regions, and ticket prices are steep
Delivery is restricted to customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe. The timeline is clear: no one will receive their acrylic-encased souvenir before the tournament ends. Separately, FIFA is charging up to $32,970 for standard final tickets, with hospitality packages running to $34,500 and $32,500.
