FIFA defends MetLife Stadium pitch after Vinicius and Rabiot call surface unplayable

FIFA has moved to defend the playing surface at MetLife Stadium following pointed criticism from players at the 2026 World Cup, with the governing body insisting the pitch is performing as intended despite complaints from Brazil and France stars.

Brazil drew 1-1 with Morocco at the East Rutherford, New Jersey venue on June 13, while France beat Senegal 3-1 there three days later. Both matches prompted immediate concerns about the condition of the surface, which has been rebranded as New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament. The stadium is scheduled to host six more matches, including the final on July 19.

Vinicius Junior was among the most vocal critics after Brazil’s draw. “Because of the weather and the heat, the grass dries out quickly and the game ends up being very slow,” the forward said. “We can’t build up a rhythm.”

France midfielder Adrien Rabiot went further. “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.”

France manager Didier Deschamps was more measured, describing the surface as “a special surface” and “different” while acknowledging the challenge. “We need to get used to this,” Deschamps said. “There might be some cement below the grass. You have very short shards of grass here. But we do adjust.”

FIFA responded with a detailed statement defending its turf management programme. “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,” the governing body said.

“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.”

FIFA also sought to separate aesthetics from performance, adding: “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.”

The controversy adds pressure ahead of the stadium’s next fixture, Norway against Senegal, with the latter returning to the same venue after their opening defeat — and their players likely aware of the surface complaints already circulating in the tournament.