When billions of soccer fans around the world tune in to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup — already underway with matches at 16 North American stadiums — they're watching athletes compete on fields that trace their roots to Jefferson County, Oregon.
Kentucky bluegrass grown under irrigation in the Madras and Culver areas is being used at multiple World Cup stadiums across the United States, according to reporting by Central Oregon Daily. Oregon produces approximately 70% of the nation's Kentucky bluegrass seed, and Jefferson County is a cornerstone of that industry.
A Deep Agricultural Tradition
Grass seed has been a staple crop in the Madras and Culver farming communities for generations. The high desert plateau's combination of irrigation water from the Deschutes Project, sunny days, cool nights, and well-drained volcanic soils creates ideal conditions for producing premium turf grass seed.
According to the Jefferson County Seed Growers Association, grass seed is grown under irrigation across thousands of acres in the Madras and Culver areas. Kentucky bluegrass is among the most valuable crops in that mix — prized for its durability, its ability to spread and self-repair underground, and its performance under heavy use.
Those same qualities are exactly what FIFA demanded for the 2026 World Cup. The tournament's organizers required all 16 host stadiums to install natural grass playing surfaces — a major challenge for venues like domed NFL stadiums that normally use artificial turf. In cooler climates, groundskeepers favor blends of ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass. Ryegrass germinates quickly and recovers well from damage; Kentucky bluegrass spreads underground and gradually repairs itself.
Local Farms, Global Stage
Jefferson County's multigenerational farming families — many of whom have farmed the same land for five, six, and seven generations — are the backbone of this industry. Families like the Klanns have raised Kentucky bluegrass alongside potatoes, alfalfa, carrot seed, and wheat for decades.
It's a quiet but powerful connection between a rural Oregon county and the world's biggest sporting event. While cameras pan across pristine green pitches in Los Angeles, Dallas, Seattle, and New York, the seed that grew that grass may well have started its life in a field east of Highway 97, just outside Madras or Culver.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs through July 19. More information about Jefferson County's grass seed industry is available through the Jefferson County Seed Growers Association at jeffcoseed.com.