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Oklahoma State University will have a presence in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final game, but not in the way you might expect.
The game will be played between either Spain or France and either England or Argentina, pending semifinal results, on Sunday, July 19.
No, there won't be any OSU alumni playing, coaching or refereeing the game.
The school's presence will be in the form of the warm-season bermudagrass developed by OSU Agriculture researchers , Tahoma 31, which is used in sports complexes worldwide.
Three of the tournament's 16 venues used Tahoma 31 for a total of 18 games -- four at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico, six at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara and eight, including the final, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Tahoma 31's predecessor, NorthBridge, also developed at OSU, was used at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City and Estadio Akron in Guadalajara.
More: What channel is France vs Spain soccer game on today? World Cup time, TV schedule Seeing OSU-developed Tahoma 31 bermudagrass being used for the worlds biggest stage in soccer reflects years of research, innovation and dedication by our faculty and scientists to develop turfgrass that delivers exceptional performance, resilience and sustainability, said Jayson Lusk , vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture , per a university release.
This achievement showcases how land-grant university research can make a global impact, and it underscores OSUs commitment to developing solutions that serve communities far beyond our campus.
Tahoma 31 is also used in other major events or locations, including the White House, the Olympics, the PGA Tour and Central Park in New York City.
A statement from the university said an important feature of Tahoma 31 is its benefits for player safety.
Yanqi Wu, a professor in the OSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences , explained that as players run and pivot quickly, its dense and solid stands provide the needed surface to prevent slipping and injuries.
Other key features include its fine texture, dark color, drought and shade tolerance, high density and cold hardiness, the university said.
Tahoma 31 has been used in many sports and golf facilities in many countries on six continents in the world, Wu said in the statement.
Billions of people have watched this grass perform well on sports fields, especially in the 2026 FIFA Soccer World Cup matches.
This is because Tahoma 31 combines fine turfgrass qualities with desirable resistance to some important environmental and biological stresses.
It is exciting that it is used for multiple cultural landmarks.
In the 2026 NFL Players Association report card, Tahoma 31 was most NFL players' favorite grass to play on.
Of the 10 highest-graded fields, six use OSU-developed grass.
The development of Tahoma 31, NorthBridge and the upcoming Endarra 81, set to be available for homeowners next year, is part of OSU Extension, Oklahoma's statewide system for translating university research into practical guidance for residents, farmers, businesses, and communities.
Once a high-visibility, top-notch stadium that gets a lot of traffic has success with something, things can spread like wildfire, said Dennis Martin , OSU Extension and research turfgrass specialist.
Thats what weve seen with Tahoma 31.
The grass is performing, and as long as it continues to perform, I think well continue to see it in those facilities.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State University will have a surprising hand in the World Cup finals.