The World Cup Pitch in New Jersey: Why Everyone Is Talking About the Grass

What’s the Buzz About the Field?

Before and after World Cup games in East Rutherford, New Jersey, players and coaches have been asked a lot about the playing field (the "pitch"). Opinions are all over the place:

• Brazil’s Vinicius Junior did not like it.
• France coach Didier Deschamps called it "special" — and not in a good way.
• Norway’s Ståle Solbakken was asked many times about the surface before his first game there, and ended up happier with it than he thought he’d be.

The field is not the same as the artificial turf (fake grass) at that stadium that NFL football players have complained about. Instead, it is real grass with tiny fake fibers sewn in to stop chunks of grass (divots) and tears from happening. Even so, through the first seven tournament games there, people have had mixed feelings.

Important: After almost two weeks of work to make the field as good as possible, the biggest game happens there on Sunday: Argentina vs. Spain in the final. Neither team has played at this Meadowlands stadium yet, which makes the match even more unpredictable.

Players and Coaches Say the Turf Plays Fast — and Better When Wet

Before Norway played Senegal in New Jersey, Solbakken said the field was like AstroTurf (an old type of fake grass). He said the short, firm grass could actually help teams that like to keep control of the ball.

Then it poured rain before and during the June 22 game, and that changed everything.

• Solbakken said: “The pitch was much better because of the rain, because the rain made it (so) that the ball doesn’t hang on your foot. It’s going faster, smoother, and that made two good teams play to their strength.”
• He worried that if it were dry, the short grass would be harder to play on — but the rain made it much better.

When England played Panama in their last group game, the field was dry. England coach Thomas Tuchel also said it felt like artificial turf because the grass was so short — very different from the field in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

• Tuchel said: “It’s a very fast pitch. It’s very short and a bit uneven because you see still the different layers of the grass and not fully even. So, it’s quite active. It is quite bouncy. … This one was very hard and very fast but was good, playable, and no one complained.”

After Brazil’s opener against Morocco on June 13 (Vinicius scored), he said, “The field is not helping.” Rabiot, who played there against Senegal three days later, called it hard and rigid.

• Rabiot said through a translator: “In Europe, we play on pitches that are in a better condition. The pitch was not in a good condition, in my mind. I saw that there has been also a lot of criticism, so I’m not the only one criticizing the state of it.”
• Deschamps called it tough and said the pitch “took a lot out of the players’ muscles.”

By the time France returned for the knockout round against Sweden on June 30, Rabiot said he thought it was a little better and the grass was longer.

FIFA Spent Over 5 Years on the Turf and Made Tweaks During the Cup

FIFA (the group that runs the World Cup) said the prep included testing and working with grass experts and stadium staff. The grass came from Carolina Green Sod Farm and was put in place in early May.

After adding the hybrid fibers (real grass + fake fibers), workers did a repeating routine:

• Added top dressing (a thin layer of soil/sand)
• Poked holes for air (aeration)
• Mowed the grass
• Used careful watering (irrigation)

The field was checked the whole time during five group games and two knockout games there. They tested:

• Moisture (wetness)
• Firmness (how hard it was)
• Overall playability (could kids and pros play okay?)

The Norway–Senegal game showed officials how much water the field could hold. That led them to water more:

• Before games
• During games
• At halftime
• During hydration breaks (short water breaks)

FIFA told The Associated Press: “The objective throughout has been to deliver a surface that meets the highest possible standards for performance, consistency and player safety.”

There was a planned 13-day break between Norway/Brazil in the round of 16 and the final. FIFA used this time to let the grass recover, get ready, and rehearse the ceremony.

Will the Final Be Played on Good Grass? Nobody Knows

We can only guess how the field will act during the final. Heavy rain is expected Saturday, which could make it like Norway’s rainy first game.

• There is also smoke from Canadian wildfires, so air quality is a question.
• Other than that, the weather looks great: sunny and about 82°F (27.78°C).

After the World Cup, the real grass will be pulled up and artificial turf put back at MetLife Stadium before the Giants’ first preseason NFL game on Aug. 15. This change already started at other U.S. stadiums after their final games.

The NFL Players Association (the union for football players) does not like this. They say 92% of players prefer natural grass. Many players posted online supporting grass.

• Washington offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil posted: “If stadiums can make grass work for the World Cup, they can make it work for NFL players.”

Summary

The New Jersey World Cup field is real grass mixed with fake fibers to avoid damage. People disagree: some say it’s fast and fine (especially when wet), others say it’s hard and not good. FIFA spent years planning and kept adjusting water and care. The Argentina–Spain final is the big test, and rain may help. After the Cup, fake turf returns for NFL games, which many players oppose.

FAQ

Q: What is a hybrid grass pitch?
A: It is real grass with synthetic (fake) fibers stitched in to help prevent holes and tears.

Q: Why do some players like the field when it rains?
A: Rain makes the grass smoother and faster, so the ball does not stick to feet and teams can play their style.

Q: Did FIFA try to fix the field during the tournament?
A: Yes. They tested wetness and hardness, added more watering, and used a 13-day break to help the grass recover.

Q: What happens to the grass after the World Cup?
A: It is removed and artificial turf is put back for NFL games, which many NFL players do not want.