MUMBAI: Some fans chase autographs. Others collect shirts. Soon, they could be taking home a slice of the pitch itself. FIFA is turning the 2026 World Cup final into a collector’s item, with plans to sell pieces of the match-day turf in a premium memorabilia initiative expected to generate more than $11 million
According to The Athletic, the governing body will sell turf collected from the field used for the 2026 <a href="https://comicvibe.com/kerala-football-fandom-turns-political-amid-fifa-world-cup-debates/” title=”Kerala football fandom turns political amid FIFA World Cup debates”>FIFA World Cup final on July 19 at East Rutherford, New Jersey, offering football fans a chance to own a physical piece of the tournament’s biggest match
The collectibles will be released across four pricing tiers, with the most premium edition carrying a price tag of $3,000. Buyers will receive a 3-inch by 3-inch section of the World Cup final pitch, accompanied by a gold-etched replica match ticket, a replica mini World Cup ball and a crystal-cut replica of the FIFA World Cup trophy
The remaining editions will be priced at $450, $900 and $1,200, giving collectors a range of options
According to the report, FIFA will produce no more than 2,026 pieces in each pricing category, a nod to the tournament year. The collectibles will be available exclusively to customers in the United States and Europe
The report also revealed that the natural grass used for the World Cup final was cultivated at a farm in North Carolina before being installed at the stadium
To ensure consistent playing conditions throughout the tournament, FIFA laid new natural grass surfaces at all World Cup venues, including stadiums that traditionally use artificial turf. These include venues in Seattle, Atlanta, East Rutherford, Vancouver, Arlington and Inglewood
It remains unclear what FIFA intends to do with the grass removed from the tournament’s other 16 stadiums once the competition concludes
The initiative has, however, attracted fresh criticism. Already facing scrutiny over the high cost of World Cup tickets in the United States, FIFA has now come under fire for the pricing of its latest memorabilia. Adding to the confusion, the official FIFA digital store reportedly lists each turf segment as measuring 17.5 x 17.5 x 17.5 without specifying whether the dimensions are in inches, centimetres or millimetres
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the biggest edition in the tournament’s history, featuring a record 48 teams, 104 matches and 16 venues spread across three host nations. With the final whistle yet to blow, FIFA is already finding new ways to ensure the tournament lives on—one patch of grass at a time
