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Rabat – FIFA has defended the condition of the MetLife Stadium pitch ahead of Sunday’s 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, insisting that the playing surface is ready for football’s biggest match.
The stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will welcome more than 82,000 spectators for the final after being selected ahead of other major American venues.
However, its temporary natural-grass pitch has remained a subject of criticism throughout the tournament.
Alan Ferguson, FIFA’s senior pitch management manager, said the surface has improved significantly and is unlikely to become a major talking point during the final.
According to Ferguson, the MetLife pitch has consistently ranked fourth among the 16 World Cup venues in FIFA’s technical testing.
“We’re not perfect,” he acknowledged, adding that the surface is approximately “95 per cent” of where organizers wanted it to be.
Vinicius criticized pitch after Morocco draw
Questions surfaced during the group stage following Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Morocco on June 13.
Brazil forward Vinicius Junior argued that the condition of the grass made it difficult for his team to play at its preferred speed.
He said the combination of heat and a dry surface slowed the ball and prevented Brazil from building a consistent rhythm.
Vinicius added that his teammates wanted to move the ball quickly from one side of the pitch to the other, but the playing conditions made that approach more difficult.
France midfielder Adrien Rabiot delivered an even harsher assessment after his country’s 3-1 victory over Senegal at the same stadium.
Rabiot said the surface felt more artificial than natural, describing it as hard and rigid.
France coach Didier Deschamps also questioned the pitch, joking that there could be cement beneath the grass because of its hardness and the short length of the blades.
New technology installed at MetLife
MetLife normally uses an artificial surface for NFL games involving the New York Giants and New York Jets.
FIFA regulations, however, require World Cup matches to be played on natural grass.
Organizers therefore installed a temporary surface over the stadium’s artificial turf, supported by new infrastructure that had not been available during previous football tournaments at the venue.
The system includes automatic irrigation, drainage, oxygen support and vacuum ventilation beneath the grass.
The surface itself contains several layers, including the Bermuda grass, soil and sand-based root zones, gravel and drainage materials.
The temporary grass will be removed after the World Cup final as the stadium prepares to return to its usual artificial surface for the NFL season.
Two-week break helped pitch recover
FIFA also gave the MetLife surface time to recover by leaving a two-week gap between its final earlier tournament match and Sunday’s final.
The stadium has not hosted a match since Norway defeated Brazil in the round of 16 on July 5.
Ferguson said the break allowed the maintenance team to complete important work and prepare the grass without the pressure of another match approaching within a few days.
The pitch is scheduled to receive its final cut on Sunday morning before being watered and prepared for the afternoon kickoff.
Despite the criticism it faced earlier in the competition, FIFA remains confident that the surface will provide suitable conditions when Spain and Argentina compete for the World Cup trophy.
