World Sports and SIS Pitches announce exclusive partnership to bring hybrid stitching technology to Brazil

World Sports, a leading company in the construction and maintenance of high-performance sports turf in Brazil and the United States, has announced an exclusive partnership with the SIS Pitches. The agreement officially introduces to the Brazilian market the world’s most advanced hybrid turf stitching technology, currently used in major international sporting events, including FIFA World Cups, the FIFA Club World Cup, the Olympic Games, the Premier League, the National Football League (NFL), Major League Soccer (MLS), Major League Baseball (MLB), and Rugby League.

The partnership builds on an already successful relationship, as the two companies have collaborated on major projects in the United States, including work at Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers. SIS Pitches’ hybrid technology was selected for 9 of the 16 stadiums hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026: Monterrey, Guadalajara, Toronto, Vancouver, Kansas City, New Jersey, Miami, San Francisco, and Seattle.

“Modern football demands pitches capable of withstanding an increasing number of matches without compromising player safety, playability, or aesthetics. Hybrid stitching has become the preferred solution to this challenge, which is why FIFA has adopted the technology for its competitions, including every stadium at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Through our partnership with SIS Pitches, we will make this proven technology more accessible to Brazilian clubs and stadiums, bringing a solution already trusted by the world’s leading competitions,” says Roberto Gomide, Founder and CEO of World Sports.

Hybrid stitching is a technology that reinforces natural grass pitches by inserting high-performance synthetic fibers directly into the rootzone. The result is a hybrid playing surface consisting of approximately 95% natural grass and 5% polyethylene fibers, preserving the appearance, feel, and playing characteristics of natural turf while significantly improving durability. As the grass roots develop, they intertwine with the synthetic fibers, creating a stronger and more stable root structure.

Installed using SIS GRASS Hybrid stitching machines, the system can be applied both during the construction of new pitches and on existing natural grass fields. The technology is fully customizable, allowing clubs and engineers to determine the ideal spacing between stitched rows according to the sport, soil profile, and available budget.

Ivo Lamot, CEO at SIS Pitches, said: “South America is a region we know well and are proud to have worked across, delivering high-quality pitches in Colombia, Chile, Argentina and Brazil. Our relationship with World Sports has been a real highlight of that journey, and the projects we have delivered together, including our work in the United States, have been consistently collaborative and successful.

One of the greatest advantages of bringing this technology to Brazil lies in the operational efficiency and lightweight design of the equipment. The Brazilian market will now have access to machinery capable of transforming stadium renovation schedules by reducing the installation time of a full-sized hybrid pitch by up to 78%, delivering an implementation speed unmatched anywhere in the world.

A recent example of this performance took place at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins and a venue for both the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and the FIFA World Cup 2026. There, installation of the Rapid-Stitch system was completed in just 56 hours, setting a new world record for elite stadium installations. In addition to its speed, the machine weighs only 3.5 tons – approximately 70% lighter than traditional stitching machines – significantly reducing soil compaction and minimizing stress on the playing surface during installation.

“Hybrid stitched turf dramatically extends the lifespan of elite sports pitches, creating surfaces that are up to three times more durable and offering a minimum service life of eight years. This structure supports much higher usage intensity while ensuring faster recovery between matches and commercial events. It also proves extremely valuable during the challenging seasonal transition from winter to summer turf. Beneath the surface, the twisted fibers create microchannels that improve water drainage and gas exchange, promoting an aerobic environment that encourages deeper, healthier root development. For athletes, this translates into greater consistency, improved stability, and superior traction, significantly reducing surface wear while enhancing protection against muscular and joint injuries. Best of all, clubs can maintain their existing turf maintenance programs with only minor technical adjustments,” adds Roberto.

In line with growing global sustainability standards, the partnership will also introduce Bio-X™ Fiber to the Brazilian market. This next-generation hybrid turf fiber was developed after testing more than 80 prototypes across Europe. Manufactured from naturally derived raw materials, Bio-X™ Fiber delivers the same structural reinforcement, traction, and performance standards required by the world’s leading sports leagues, including the Premier League, NFL, MLS, and MLB.

Its greatest environmental advantage comes at the end of the field’s lifecycle. Unlike conventional synthetic polymers, which can contribute to microplastic pollution and remain in the environment for decades, Bio-X™ Fiber is fully compatible with industrial composting processes.