NEW YORK — Players from Brazil and France have complained about the playing surface at MetLife Stadium during the FIFA World Cup, raising concerns over its condition ahead of further matches including the final.
Brazil forward Vinicius Junior criticized the pitch after his team’s June 13 match against Morocco, describing it as dry and slow. France midfielder Adrien Rabiot and coach Didier Deschamps voiced similar issues following their June 16 game against Senegal.
“The pitch ... I don’t even know if you can call it that. It felt more like an artificial surface — quite hard and quite rigid,” Rabiot said. Vinicius Junior added, “Because of the weather and the heat, the grass dries out very quickly. The game becomes very sluggish, and we can’t get into our rhythm.”
MetLife Stadium, rebranded as New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament, installed a temporary natural grass surface in May to meet FIFA requirements. It has hosted two matches so far, with six more scheduled, including the final on July 19.
FIFA issued a statement defending the venue. “The pitches at all 16 FIFA World Cup 2026 stadiums remain in excellent condition from both a playability and player safety perspective,” the organization said.
The complaints echo past criticisms of the surface at the home of the NFL’s New York Giants and Jets. Stadium operators have worked with FIFA on pitch management, including efforts to address heat and weather impacts in the Meadowlands area.
Other venues in the tournament have received more positive feedback from players, according to reports. Details on any planned adjustments to the MetLife pitch before upcoming games were not immediately available.
As of Wednesday, additional World Cup matches at the stadium are set to proceed as scheduled. FIFA and local organizers continue to monitor conditions, with no changes to the venue’s role announced.
