The New York Giants are scheduled to play the most games on turf in the NFL in 2026.
The Athletic’s Chad Graff notes that the Giants are set to play 15 games on artificial turf fields next season. The Tennessee Titans are the only other team that will play as many games on turf. The Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, and New Orleans Saints will play the second-most games on turf, with 13 each.
This year’s FIFA World Cup added to the ongoing debate over whether it is feasible for the NFL to fully transition to grass fields for games. The tournament was played at 11 NFL stadiums in the United States, each of which installed grass surfaces for the matches.
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With half of the league’s 30 stadiums still using turf, the World Cup’s successful use of grass in those venues raises questions about why the NFL has not made a full switch. The Giants’ schedule could serve as a data point in the broader discussion about moving all stadiums toward natural grass surfaces in the future.
The debate has intensified locally around MetLife Stadium, where the turf-to-grass switch for the World Cup drew pointed criticism from Giants players.
Offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor described the impending return to artificial turf as a “sucky feeling,” noting that grass feels significantly better on the body after nearly a decade in the league. He argued that the NFL’s profitability should allow players more influence over field conditions and that the higher maintenance costs of grass would be worthwhile for player safety and comfort.
A players’ union poll showed 92 percent of members prefer grass.
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Even with grass installed, international soccer stars also voiced frustrations with MetLife’s pitch during World Cup matches. France midfielder Adrien Rabiot called the surface hard and rigid, likening it to artificial turf, while Brazil’s Vinicius Junior noted how quickly it dried out in the heat, making play sluggish.
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2026 New York Giants schedule: Photos
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 13 vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m. ET
(Vincent Carchietta, Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)
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2026 New York Giants schedule: Photos
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 13 vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m. ET
(Vincent Carchietta, Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)
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2026 New York Giants schedule: Photos
Week 2: Monday, Sept. 21 at Los Angeles Rams, 8:15 p.m. ET
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New York Giants 2026 schedule: 5 most intriguing games
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 27 vs. Tennessee Titans, 1:00 p.m. ET
(George Walker IV / Tennessean.com, George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK)
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2026 New York Giants schedule: Photos
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 4 vs. Arizona Cardinals, 1:00 p.m. ET
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Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 11 at Washington Commanders, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Peter Casey, Peter Casey-Imagn Images)
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2026 New York Giants schedule: Photos
Week 6: Sunday, Oct 18 vs. New Orleans Saints, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Stephen Lew, Stephen Lew-Imagn Images)
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2026 New York Giants schedule: Photos
Week 7: Sunday, Oct 25 at Houston Texans, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Troy Taormina, Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)
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2026 New York Giants schedule: Photos
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2026 New York Giants schedule: Photos
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 8 at Philadelphia Eagles, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
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2026 New York Giants schedule: Photos
Week 10: Thursday, Nov. 12 vs. Washington Commanders, 8:15 p.m. ET
(Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com, Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 22 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports)
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2026 New York Giants schedule: Photos
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 29 at Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Giants Wire)
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2026 New York Giants schedule: Photos
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 6 vs. San Francisco 49ers, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com, Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 13 at Seattle Seahawks, 4:15 p.m. ET
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2026 New York Giants schedule: Photos
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 20 vs. Cleveland Browns, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)
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2026 New York Giants schedule: Photos
Week 16: Monday, Dec. 28 at Detroit Lions, 8:15 p.m. ET
(Lon Horwedel, Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images)
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2026 New York Giants schedule: Photos
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 3 at Dallas Cowboys, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Kevin Jairaj, Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images)
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New York Giants face brutal stretch to close out 2026 regular season
Week 18: Saturday/Sunday, Jan. 9/10 vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Vincent Carchietta, Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants to play most turf games in NFL in 2026, fueling grass bebate