Beyond the Green | John Sorochan, Ph.D.

John Sorochan, Ph.D., distinguished professor of plant sciences at the University of Tennessee, discusses his eight-year collaboration with FIFA to prepare playing surfaces for the 2026 World Cup across North America. The conversation covers how Sorochan established his relationship with FIFA through Alan Ferguson, the challenges of managing 16 different stadiums across varied climates from Mexico City to Seattle to New York and Boston, and the innovative research being conducted. Key topics include converting synthetic turf stadiums to natural grass using hybrid reinforcement technology, growing sod on plastic for better transplant success, and ensuring uniform playing conditions across venues using different grass types - Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass for cooler climates, and hybrid Bermudagrass for warmer regions. Sorochan also describes the FIFA-funded research facility at the University of Tennessee that simulates dome stadium conditions and the development of the flex testing device to measure field uniformity. The interview highlights the scientific approach FIFA is taking to field management and the growth of the turfgrass research program at the University of Tennessee from humble beginnings to a world-class operation.