2026 World Cup Turf Sale Sparks Outrage: New Jersey Furious Over $13M Investment Harvested by Others

Hupu Football News — July 25th — Although the 2026 World Cup has concluded, a fierce dispute has erupted over the ownership of the stadium turf. The New York-New Jersey World Cup Organizing Committee recently announced that it will receive most of the proceeds from the sale of the turf removed from MetLife Stadium after the tournament. This decision has sparked strong protests from New Jersey political circles, as the state spent over $13 million on the installation and maintenance of this temporary natural grass field.

The controversy stems from a FIFA commercial plan: the organization will cut the World Cup final venue's turf into 2026 pieces for sale. These turf fragments are sealed in transparent acrylic blocks, accompanied by a commemorative USB drive with the FIFA logo and a certificate of authenticity. Depending on scarcity, each piece is priced between $450 and $3,000.

New Jersey's Anger: "We Paid, You Collect?"

Faced with this substantial "windfall," the New Jersey state government is unwilling to stand by. To meet the World Cup's requirements for natural grass, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority previously allocated over $13 million specifically for the design, installation, and daily maintenance of the natural turf at MetLife Stadium, replacing the venue's original artificial turf.

• New Jersey Democratic Governor Miki Sherrill made it clear that since New Jersey taxpayers footed the multi-million-dollar bill, any proceeds from the turf sale should rightfully benefit the state's taxpayers.
• Republican Assemblyman Michael Inganamort was even more blunt, calling the practice "illegal." He publicly declared on social media, "FIFA, stay away from our turf!" He argued that the turf belongs to state property, and its disposal must follow state asset management regulations, with the core principle being to maximize benefits for New Jersey taxpayers.

Committee's Response: Proceeds for Regional Development

In response to the criticism, New York-New Jersey Organizing Committee spokesperson Natalie Hamilton stated that the committee holds a legal license to sell the turf and emphasized that the turf is not permanent property of New Jersey. She said the proceeds from the sale would be reinvested into various public initiatives in the region.

However, according to media reports, the profit distribution behind this deal is quite complex. Most of the revenue will actually go to a British company called KeepStub, while the committee and FIFA share the remaining profits under a licensing agreement.

Although MetLife Stadium is located in New Jersey, it is considered part of the New York metropolitan area. During this World Cup, the stadium hosted eight important matches, including the final.

Broader Economic Impact

Despite the dispute over uneven turf revenue distribution, the overall economic benefits of the World Cup remain impressive. New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced that the 2026 World Cup generated approximately $228 million in state and local tax revenue for New York alone.

Currently, New Jersey lawmakers have urged the governor to take legal action or seek an injunction to prevent the sale of this "expensive turf" until a consensus on profit distribution is reached.

Source: infobae

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