The World Cup is coming to North America next month, and SoFi Stadium—the glittering $5.5 billion home of the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood—is getting a major makeover to host the global tournament. As one of the premier venues in the country, it's no surprise that Stan Kroenke's architectural marvel made the cut for World Cup matches. But to meet FIFA's strict standards, the stadium had to undergo some serious changes, and the biggest overhaul is one that's been a hot topic in sports for years: the playing surface.

All World Cup games must be played on natural grass, but SoFi Stadium, like many NFL venues, was built with artificial turf. That turf has now been completely stripped out, and a lush grass pitch has been installed in its place—a process that was anything but simple. To make room for the regulation-sized soccer field, field-level suites and seating sections also had to be removed, transforming the stadium's layout for the event. The official SoFi Stadium account shared a fascinating behind-the-scenes video of the transformation, with the turf-to-grass switch being the star of the show.

This shift is especially notable because NFL players have long advocated for grass fields over turf, citing safety and performance benefits. For years, they've pushed for natural surfaces at their workplaces, but it's taken the arrival of the world's top soccer players for stadiums to temporarily oblige. The irony isn't lost on fans: the World Cup gets the grass fields that NFL stars have been begging for, while the league's players will likely return to turf once the tournament wraps up. As the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in just one month, SoFi Stadium is ready to shine on the global stage—leaving us to wonder if this temporary upgrade might spark a longer conversation about playing surfaces in American football.