Every First-Round Game Will Be Played on AstroTurf as the Road to Louisville Begins
Louisville, KY — The field is set for the 2026 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship, and AstroTurf® will once again have a commanding presence throughout the tournament. 15 of the 18 qualifying programs compete on AstroTurf playing surfaces, representing more than 83% of the championship field. Even more impressive, every first-round matchup will take place on an AstroTurf field, with the national semifinals and championship also scheduled for an AstroTurf installation at the University of Louisville.
The NCAA announced its 18-team bracket on November 8, setting up a championship featuring some of the most accomplished programs in collegiate field hockey. The tournament’s four opening-weekend host sites, Northwestern, Maryland, Harvard, and UConn, each feature surfaces within the AstroTurf family of field hockey systems. From the first whistle of the opening rounds to the crowning of a national champion, AstroTurf will provide the stage for college field hockey’s biggest moments.
The strength of this year’s field is a continuation of decades of investment in the sport. AstroTurf has helped shape the evolution of field hockey surfaces, working alongside elite collegiate programs to develop systems engineered specifically for the precision, pace, and technical demands of the game. Our AstroTurf 12 and Poligras® systems have become fixtures at nationally recognized programs, providing the playing characteristics needed for fast ball movement, accurate passing, and consistent performance.
Northwestern enters the tournament as the defending national champion and No. 1 seed, while Maryland, Harvard, and UConn round out the four regional hosts. Each will welcome some of the nation’s best teams to facilities featuring AstroTurf-family technology. Their success reflects the confidence collegiate programs continue to place in surfaces developed for field hockey rather than adapted from other sports.
That specialization has been central to our leadership in field hockey. Unlike traditional synthetic turf systems designed for football or soccer, elite field hockey surfaces use shorter, denser fibers and carefully engineered constructions to create the fast, predictable ball movement the sport demands. Our continued investment in manufacturing, research, and product development has helped advance those characteristics while addressing durability, athlete interaction, and the long-term needs of high-use collegiate facilities.
The road to the national championship leads to Trager Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky, where the NCAA semifinals will take place November 20 and the national championship game November 22. The stadium features an AstroTurf 12 System 90 playing surface, continuing a remarkable tradition: every NCAA Division I Field Hockey Final Four since the sport moved away from natural grass has been contested on an AstroTurf surface.
With 15 AstroTurf programs in the bracket, the possibility of another all-AstroTurf Final Four is firmly in play. Tournament success will ultimately be decided by the athletes and coaches, but our presence throughout the championship reflects the relationships we’ve built with the programs consistently competing at the highest levels of the sport.
Our commitment extends beyond the NCAA championship. As the official turf of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association and USA Field Hockey, AstroTurf continues to support the game’s development through collegiate partnerships, elite training environments, youth participation, and sport-specific innovation. We believe the growth of field hockey deserves continued investment in the surfaces athletes use to develop their skills and compete.
The 2026 championship will bring together exceptional programs, established contenders, and teams looking to make their mark on the national stage. We’re proud to support so many of them throughout the season and to provide the playing surfaces at every tournament host site.
Fifteen of eighteen teams. Every first-round venue. One AstroTurf championship stage in Louisville. The road to the national title runs on AstroTurf.
