MetLife Stadium Faces Fresh Wave of Criticism as 2026 World Cup Final Venue

The inaugural FIFA Club World Cup match at MetLife Stadium has once again sparked familiar complaints about the quality of the playing field. Despite FIFA's installation of new turf to replace the surface widely criticized by NFL players, the concerns about field conditions persist.

In accordance with FIFA regulations, the artificial turf was replaced with natural grass for both the Club World Cup and the upcoming 2026 World Cup. During the goalless encounter between Palmeiras and Porto, participants from both teams expressed dissatisfaction with the playing surface.

"I believe the pitch needed more watering as the ball moved too slowly, which affected the game's tempo. This impacted both our team and Porto. Fortunately, rainfall later in the match helped increase the ball speed," Palmeiras player Estêvão remarked to The Athletic.

Porto's Ze Pedro also mentioned that the field quality could have been improved, with coaches from both sides sharing similar reservations. This concerning first impression is particularly troubling given the stadium's problematic history and the harsh criticism from Emiliano Martínez and Lionel Scaloni during last summer's Copa América matches at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

MetLife Stadium, which hosts both the New York Jets and Giants, has received consistent criticism from NFL players due to the significant number of season-ending injuries occurring on its artificial surface. Since 2020, 13 notable player injuries have been recorded at the venue, including Aaron Rodgers's well-publicized Achilles rupture on September 11, 2023.

The Club World Cup serves as a test run for the World Cup as FIFA evaluates playing surfaces nationwide. MetLife is scheduled to host both tournament finals and more matches than any other American venue across both competitions. While field conditions may be manageable for the current tournament, ensuring appropriate playing surfaces for the varying summer conditions is crucial for 2026. The initial feedback from players and staff doesn't inspire confidence.

Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira also addressed the seating arrangement considering the stadium's capacity and attendance figures. "The challenge is that the stadium is enormous," he stated. "Forty-six thousand spectators is substantial, but perhaps closing the upper tier and concentrating everyone in the first and second levels would have been better. Nevertheless, with the large Palmeiras supporter presence, it felt like a home game, which was advantageous for us.

"The venue is oversized, but attracting 46,000 attendees is impressive when people from Brazil and Portugal had to travel such distances, which isn't easily accomplished."

Ferreira avoided commenting on the ongoing controversy regarding ticket pricing after FIFA repeatedly reduced costs for Inter Miami's opening match against Al Ahly.