FIFA have been forced to defend the pitch at MetLife Stadium after players at the World Cup openly criticised its condition. The stadium, which has been rebranded as New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament, has hosted two matches so far, with six more to come including the final, despite concerns about its state.
Brazil drew 1-1 at the stadium on June 13 before France overcame Senegal 3-1 in the same venue three days later. After a six-day break, the stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is set to host Norway against Senegal.
It is a crucial game for Senegal after their defeat in the Group I opener and they may not be pleased to return to the same stadium, given complaints about the patchy and dry nature of the playing surface.
“Because of the weather and the heat, the grass dries out quickly and the game ends up being very slow. We can’t build up a rhythm,” Vinicius Junior complained after Brazil's draw with Morocco.
France manager Didier Deschamps did his best to be diplomatic, describing it as “a special surface" and "different" with a smile on his face. “We need to get used to this," he added. "There might be some cement below the grass. You have very short shards of grass here. But we do adjust. This does create a change, but we take these technicalities into account.”
France midfielder Adrien Rabiot was less cagey. “The pitch was… I don’t know if I’d even call it that," he said. "It seemed more like an artificial pitch. It was hard and rigid, but it’s like that for every team. You need to adapt to the conditions. I hope we find better pitches in our other games.”
Including Norway vs Senegal, MetLife hosts six matches including the final on July 19. FIFA is convinced it's up to the task.
“FIFA has invested more than five years in meticulous and collaborative research, testing and innovation, working closely with leading turf experts, stadium operators and football stakeholders, to deliver the best possible playing surfaces for players,” FIFA said in a statement to The Athletic.
“The pitches at all 16 FIFA World Cup 2026 stadiums remain in excellent condition from both a playability and player safety perspective. While there have been comments regarding the visual appearance of certain areas of the playing surface at NYNJ Stadium, FIFA’s turf management team’s assessment is that every pitch is healthy and performing as intended for elite competition.
"Variations in the appearance of some surfaces, whether on television or in person, do not necessarily reflect the quality, health or playability of the pitch.”
FIFA added: “FIFA’s pitch management teams undertake extensive testing and monitoring before every match, including assessments of moisture levels, firmness and overall playing conditions.
“Irrigation plans are tailored to the specific requirements of each venue and matchday conditions, and surfaces are continuously monitored throughout the tournament. Pitches are irrigated in line with established protocols before and during matches, with moisture levels closely monitored throughout the day.
“FIFA’s focus remains on providing players with safe, consistent and high-performing playing surfaces across all venues throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026.”
