The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially begun, with a series of matches scheduled to be played at MetLife Stadium throughout the summer.
France recently defeated Senegal, 3-1, in one of the tournament’s early games at the venue. Several players from both teams voiced concerns about the pitch conditions afterward.
France midfielder Adrien Rabiot shared his thoughts on the surface, saying it needed significant improvement.
“The pitch,” he said, via the BBC, “I don’t even know if you can call it that. It felt more like an artificial surface — quite hard and quite rigid.”
Brazil forward Vinicius Junior offered a similar assessment after his team’s 1-1 draw against Morocco in East Rutherford.
“In the second half, with the heat, the pitch dries out very quickly,” he said. “The game becomes very sluggish and we can’t get into our rhythm.”
France reportedly did not wear studs in their cleats, even though the stadium had replaced its usual artificial turf with natural grass for the event. MetLife Stadium’s field is widely regarded as one of the most difficult surfaces in the NFL, and many New York Giants players have spoken about its poor quality over the years.
The challenging playing conditions during the World Cup will come as little surprise to Giants and Jets fans. Players and supporters from NFL teams across the league have long expressed similar concerns, and those issues have now been highlighted on the international stage.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: FIFA World Cup players gripe about MetLife Stadium’s ‘pitch’
Reporting by Jake Boico, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jake Boico, Giants Wire | USA TODAY Network
