NFL running back Saquon Barkley has argued that there is "no reason why" the league should continue using artificial turf at its stadiums, after FIFA required grass playing surfaces for the World Cup held partly in the United States. His comments add to a growing chorus of player pressure on the NFL to switch from turf to grass, a debate that has persisted for years amid concerns that artificial surfaces contribute to a higher rate of injuries. The issue has gained fresh momentum now that a major global tournament has demonstrated grass can be installed and maintained even at NFL venues.

Of the 11 stadiums used for the World Cup in the US, seven were NFL stadiums that normally use artificial turf, but FIFA's rules meant grass had to be laid down for the tournament instead. The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) has previously referenced rolling out a "green carpet" in nodding to the switch, reflecting the union's long-running push for grass fields league-wide. Barkley's remarks add a prominent player voice to calls for the NFL to follow FIFA's lead permanently.