Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham remarked, “The pitch isn’t ideal.” Various players described the surfaces as “slow” and “dry.” The fields for the Club World Cup, stretching from New Jersey to Seattle, differ significantly from what European teams typically experience. Bellingham noted that the ball “struggles to bounce.” PSG’s director Luis Enrique quipped that the ball “jumps around like a rabbit.” At MetLife Stadium, Borussia Dortmund’s Niklas Sur expressed disappointment, stating, “The pitch was quite poor.”
Despite these criticisms, Bellingham and Enrique weren’t making excuses; they were highlighting what Enrique referred to as “an obvious issue” that could affect the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
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Bellingham ended on a hopeful note.
Fortunately, many specialists are currently addressing these challenges. One cause for the less-than-ideal World Cup fields is that the infrastructure specifically built for 2026 isn’t yet operational.
For instance, Lumenfield in Seattle will have its World Cup pitch installed a few months before the event, featuring grass rooted in several inches of sand along with an advanced irrigation system, resembling fields in Philadelphia or Miami.
Currently, however, the Club World Cup pitch in Seattle was laid out merely ten days ago, consisting of a thin layer of grass set on temporary flooring. According to sources familiar with the setup, it’s only a few inches deep and relies on manual watering.
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There’s a risk of overwatering, which could lead to flooding and divots, as there isn’t sufficient sand to manage excess water. With just regular watering, the grass risks drying out under the afternoon sun.
This has become a noticeable issue for PSG in Seattle.
PSG defender Achraf Hakimi clarified through an interpreter:
A “Please Off” sign is visible near the pitchglass before the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group B match between Seattle Sounders FC and Club Atletico de Madrid at Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington, on June 19, 2025. (Photo: Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
(Buda Mendes via Getty Images)
Challenges at MetLife Stadium
Several teams experienced similar issues at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which will host both the Club World Cup final and the World Cup final next summer.
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“It felt like the pitch affected our precision,” stated Porto manager Martin Anselmi after a 0-0 draw with Palmeiras.
“I think the pitch could have used more watering,” noted Palmeiras’ winger Estevan. “The ball moved slower, hindering the game’s tempo.”
Like other U.S. World Cup sites, MetLife Stadium has undergone renovations over the past 18 months with new irrigation and ventilation systems installed.
However, it’s uncertain if these systems were operational this summer. A spokesperson for MetLife Stadium mentioned that the field manager was unavailable for interviews and declined to answer email inquiries. FIFA also did not provide experts for interviews.
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In anticipation of the Club World Cup, Breakri Christiansen, the pitch manager at MetLife Stadium, informed reporters that the temporary grass field features a “unique profile” with drainage layers, much like Sophie Stadium in Southern California, which debuted earlier this year. Plans are in place for several U.S. stadiums to adopt similar setups next summer. Sources confirmed to Yahoo Sports that the Club World Cup field at MetLife is indeed a “shallow pitch profile.”
“We believe it will offer an excellent surface for the tournament,” Christiansen stated.
According to Borussia Dortmund’s goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, why some grass seemed “dry” during matches against Palmeiras and Fulminense could be attributed to the grass being recently transported from a turf farm in New Jersey and laid less than a week before the Club World Cup.
Anticipated Changes for the 2026 World Cup
MetLife Stadium hosted the Weeknd on June 7th, alongside similar venues that held non-soccer events in May or early June, just weeks ahead of kickoff. Many stadium owners previously scheduled concerts and other events around this time to maximize profits. For example, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will welcome Metallica on June 3rd, followed by Beyoncé on July 10th.
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This left FIFA with little negotiating power to ensure ideal pitch conditions before the tournament.
However, for 2026, FIFA has secured an “exclusive use” window that starts a few weeks prior to the World Cup. Moreover, some stadiums are preparing by installing grass pitches in winter and maintaining them through the summer leading up to the 2026 MLS season.
Insiders indicated to Yahoo Sports that MetLife will also transition into a traditional pitch for the 2026 World Cup, as the “shallow pitch profile” is only a temporary fix for the Club World Cup.
On the Seattle front, a spokesperson for the Seahawks, owners of Lumenfield, reached out to a FIFA representative but did not receive a response.
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However, there is overall confidence that next summer’s matches at the 11 U.S. stadiums slated to host 2026 World Cup games will go more smoothly.
In the meantime, FIFA and its pitch managers are learning and adapting from their experiences during the Club World Cup.
“FIFA is continuously monitoring key factors like pitch hardness, wear, and ball roll,” a FIFA spokesperson stated to Yahoo Sports. “While acknowledging that turf types and climates differ worldwide, adjustments will be made in real-time based on weather patterns, pitch use, and match schedules to ensure a high-quality playing surface and prioritize player safety at all venues.”
“FIFA values direct feedback from players and coaches, which has led to adaptive measures like pitch watering during breaks to facilitate optimal ball movement in warmer conditions.”
Fan Take: This news is significant for soccer fans as it highlights potential challenges for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which will dictate the quality of play during such a prestigious event. Ensuring optimal pitch conditions is vital for both player performance and spectator enjoyment, and any shortcomings could impact the future growth of soccer in the U.S.
