INTERNATIONAL SOCCER
MEXICO
MEXICO CITY STADIUM Location: Mexico City, Mexico Opened: 1966 Capacity: 83,000 Roof: Open air Turfgrass: Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass blend, hybrid reinforced fibers Sod origin: Seeded at the stadium in December 2025
For the first time ever, the stadium converted to a cool-season grass in preparation for FIFA World Cup 26. Previously, it used kikuyu grass, which is native to Kenya. The new grass is appropriate for the average highs and lows of Mexico City.
Mexico City Stadium
ESTADIO GUADALAJARA Location: Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico Opened: 2010 Capacity: 48,000 Roof: Open air with overhangs for shade Turfgrass: Bermudagrass, hybrid reinforced fibers Sod Origin: Pasto Santa Cruz, Mexico
Estadio Guadalajara stands out for its construction— built on raised ground with a coliseum-like design— and its pitch is also unique. Underneath the turfgrass, along with 30 centimeters of sand and a gravel layer, are drain lines that act like a bathtub. They can be closed to prevent water from draining away, and they can fill up to irrigate from below. Water can also be pumped in or vacuumed out to ensure the right amount of moisture for the pitch.
Estadio Guadalajara
ESTADIO MONTEREY Location: Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon, Mexico Opened: 2015 Capacity: 53,500 Roof: Open air with overhangs for shade Turfgrass: Bermudagrass, hybrid reinforced fibers Sod Origin: Pasto Santa Cruz, Mexico
Though the stadium has historically used bermudagrass, a pitch installed in 2025 uses a different variety of bermudagrass, researched by University of Tennessee( UT) experts, that is stitched and reinforced with synthetic fibers. One challenge of the stadium is that the overhangs provided for spectator comfort create a lot of shade patterns, making the use of grow lights necessary even in summer.
Estadio Monterey sportsfieldmanagementonline. com January 2026 | SportsField Management
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