Rabiot criticizes the Metlife Stadium pitch after France’s victory.

Adrien Rabiot did not hold back in his words and issued a warning: the pitch at MetLife Stadium, the venue for France’s opening match in the World Cup, is far from the standards required for a competition of this magnitude. The French midfielder’s criticism comes even after his team’s convincing 3-1 victory over Senegal, but the state of the playing surface overshadowed the result and raised serious concerns about the stadium’s preparation for future matches — including the tournament’s grand final.

MetLife Stadium, located in New Jersey and typically home to NFL teams the New York Giants and New York Jets, hosted France’s World Cup debut this Tuesday. Rabiot, who started the match and played a crucial role by assisting Bradley Barcola for the second goal, did not hesitate to express his dissatisfaction with the pitch, which was installed temporarily for the event. “The pitch… I don’t even know if you can call it that. It looked more like a synthetic surface – quite hard and very stiff,” remarked the French international, visibly uncomfortable after the final whistle.

The World Cup 2026 is experienced with LEGO.

The concern becomes even more relevant when it is known that this same stadium will host England’s last group stage match against Panama on June 27, and, more importantly, the World Cup final, scheduled for July 19. The FIFA has invested in the installation of temporary natural grass pitches in eight of the sixteen host stadiums, but criticisms are mounting and are not limited to the French. Vinícius Júnior, star of the Brazilian national team, also complained about the pitch conditions after the one-all draw with Morocco: “In the second half, with the heat, the pitch dries very quickly. The game becomes very slow and we can’t impose our rhythm,” lamented the Brazilian forward.

The history of MetLife Stadium regarding dramatic injuries among NFL players does little to alleviate concerns. The venue has become sadly famous for the number of athletes who have suffered serious injuries there, as was the case recently with Malik Nabers, the Giants wide receiver, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in September, becoming yet another victim of the infamous “MetLife curse.”

The next match at the stadium is just around the corner, with Senegal facing Norway on June 22, and the pressure on the organizers is mounting. The installation of temporary pitches was supposed to ensure better conditions, but both athletes and coaching staff continue to express concerns. FIFA has so far avoided responding publicly, despite the chorus of criticism and the potential impact these conditions could have on the spectacle and, above all, on the physical integrity of the players.

The controversy surrounding MetLife Stadium reignites the debate over the selection of stadiums in the United States, many of which are designed for American football rather than European football, where the demands on the pitch are incomparably higher. With the World Cup progressing at high speed and decisive matches about to be played on this pitch, teams and fans are awaiting concrete answers and, above all, guarantees that player safety will not be compromised.

Meanwhile, attention has turned to the upcoming matches on temporary pitches, such as the clash between Scotland and Morocco at Boston Stadium, another venue that has previously reported similar issues. As player protests gain media traction, pressure is mounting on the organizers to quickly rectify the shortcomings identified by the tournament’s protagonists.

With the World Cup final scheduled for MetLife Stadium, anxiety is growing over what might happen if no action is taken. The risk of injuries, the disruption of the game rhythm, and the potential for results to be influenced by extraneous factors are legitimate concerns. The coming days will be crucial to determine whether FIFA and the local organizers can rise to the challenge posed by figures like Rabiot and Vinícius Júnior, before the issue escalates into a global crisis.

NOW YOU CAN FOLLOW THE WORLD CUP WITH ALL THE INFORMATION – HERE