Concerns Emerge Over MetLife Stadium’s New Grass Field
They’ve finally revealed the grass.
MetLife Stadium, home to the Giants and Jets, has swapped its artificial turf for natural grass, in preparation for this summer’s World Cup.
This project, which took years of research and development, was executed in early May. The goal was to make the venue—and it’s formally known as New York-New Jersey Stadium—ready for a grand showcase featuring soccer stars, culminating in the finals scheduled for July 19.
However, the initial feedback on the grass pitch has been pretty harsh—like receiving yellow cards. This was particularly true after the opening group-stage match where France faced Senegal last Tuesday.
France’s Adrien Rabiot commented, “I don’t even know if you can call it a pitch. It felt artificial—hard and tough. But, I guess every team has to adapt. I really hope the playing surface improves for the upcoming games.”
Meanwhile, team coach Didier Deschamps described the surface as “special,” and not in a favorable light. He remarked, “We need to get accustomed to this. It feels like there might be cement beneath the grass, and the blades are really short.”
This turf switch is part of a broader FIFA mandate affecting eight stadiums across North America. The rationale here involves different playing conditions that suit soccer better than American football. The essence of the “beautiful game” relies on specific ball movement across the field.
Brazilian star Vinicius Junior also weighed in after a match against Morocco, saying, “The weather and heat make the grass dry quickly, and it slows down the game. We want to transition the ball quickly, but it’s quite disruptive.”
The resurfacing at MetLife has raised concerns regarding player safety. In recent seasons, issues with stadium turf have been linked to notable injuries, including Aaron Rodgers’ ruptured Achilles and Malik Nabors’ torn ACL, to name just a couple.
No one wants to see players getting hurt—especially tournament organizers, teams that invest substantial amounts on athletes, or fans who have paid a lot to experience the games.
Deschamps expressed on Monday that “the pitch in New York was really tough, draining a lot of energy from the players.”
A matchup featuring Norway’s victory over Senegal on Monday marked the third game held at MetLife, during which gray skies unleashed heavy rain earlier in the day.
Feedback following this game, however, seemed to indicate some improvement—the added water likely benefitting the field.
Senegal’s coach Pape Tiao remarked, “Players appreciate it when water is added to the pitch. Today’s rain was good for the surface; the players didn’t have complaints.”
Norwegian defender Fredrik Andre Bjorkan pointed out that the field felt “a bit harder, and the ball moved differently.” But, being from northern climates, his team is accustomed to varied terrains.
Another player, Patrick Berg, noted, “Having grown up playing on artificial turf, we’re okay with it. Good soccer players can adapt to different surfaces.”
As Monday’s kickoff arrived in East Rutherford, only a few faded patches of grass were visible.
FIFA reassured that “the pitches at all 16 stadiums for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are in excellent condition regarding playability and player safety.” They acknowledged some comments about the appearance of the New York-New Jersey Stadium field but maintained that the pitch is sound and suitable for top-tier competition.
With just under four weeks to go until the global finals, MetLife’s grass field is expected to be in prime shape. Until then, it seems they are still adjusting to the new lawn.
