Real Madrid plans to replace the Santiago Bernabeu pitch after it hosts the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons on 8 November, despite reports that the club is happy with recent improvements to the surface.

Marca reported that Madrid plans to replace the pitch after the Bernabeu hosts the NFL game. The club has not publicly confirmed the schedule or the extent of the proposed replacement.

Why Real Madrid Plan to Replace the Bernabeu Pitch

The Bernabeu will host the Cincinnati Bengals against the Atlanta Falcons as part of the NFL’s international programme. The stadium must accommodate American football markings, including end zones, and prepare the playing surface for a different sport.

Marca reported that Los Blancos believe recent changes to the grass and maintenance methods have improved the pitch. The club has not publicly confirmed the reported replacement schedule or the extent of the work.

It remains unclear whether the NFL game will require any additional pitch work, as no published technical assessment has confirmed the surface’s current condition.

How the Bernabeu’s Retractable Pitch System Works

The stadium has an underground pitch-storage system that allows the playing surface to be moved on trays and maintained beneath the stadium. In July 2023, Real Madrid explained how its underground greenhouse preserves the turf while it is stored.

The stadium hosted its first NFL regular-season game in Spain in November 2025, when the Miami Dolphins faced the Washington Commanders. Madrid replaced the Bernabeu grass after the 2025 NFL game, according to Mundo Deportivo.

The operation involved removing the existing turf and laying a new surface ahead of the stadium's return to football.

Madrid also introduced a grass mixture containing perennial ryegrass and Poa pratensis to improve the playing surface, according to Madrid Universal.

When Will the Bernabeu Pitch Be Ready?

Real Madrid are scheduled to host Celta Vigo on 22 November, two weeks after the NFL game. Marca reports that the new pitch is expected to be ready for the fixture.

The club have not disclosed the reported replacement’s cost or confirmed whether the work will cover the entire pitch or only specific sections.