World Cup Final Stadium: Players Criticize Hard Pitch, FIFA Rejects Allegations

Norway's national team coach Ståle Solbakken joined the criticism. The 58-year-old described the surface as very hard and the grass as very short. Speaking ahead of the match against Senegal overnight into Tuesday, he said the pitch was already different from others. If it rained, Solbakken said, the game could become extremely fast as a result.

Criticism from Players and Coaches

Several players and coaches also complained that the surface appeared uneven in places and was patchy when viewed from a distance. In total, eight World Cup matches are scheduled in East Rutherford, including the final on July 19 at the New York/New Jersey Arena.

World governing body FIFA rejected the allegations. Speaking to the German Press Agency, the organization said the playing fields at all 16 World Cup stadiums were in excellent condition, both in terms of playability and player safety. FIFA also pointed to a five-year research and testing phase conducted in collaboration with leading turf experts and stadium operators, as well as to special irrigation plans for all venues.

FIFA Rejects Allegations

The organization stressed that all playing surfaces were being continuously monitored throughout the tournament. Visual differences in some playing surfaces – whether on television or on site – did not necessarily reflect the quality, condition, or playability of the turf, it added.

The German national team will play its final group-stage match on Thursday at 10:00 p.m., also in East Rutherford, broadcast by ARD and MagentaTV. The opponent is Ecuador. This means the controversial surface will also become a directly match-deciding factor for the DFB team.

Impact on the Tournament

The discussion about the pitch comes during a phase of the tournament in which other general conditions are also making headlines. In Madrid, the Spanish weather service AEMET forecast temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius, prompting the cancellation of a public viewing of the Spain vs. Saudi Arabia match at the Plaza de Colón.

At the same time, other incidents attracted attention: during Iran's second group-stage match against Belgium (0:0) in Inglewood, a spectator wearing a jersey showing the pre-Islamic flag of Iran attempted to enter the pitch and was removed by security. Referee Felix Zwayer from Berlin, 45, had also required medical treatment for a muscle cramp during his World Cup debut in the USA vs. Australia match (2:0) on Friday and is, according to Germany's head of refereeing Knut Kircher, once again fit for duty.

Away from the sporting action, coverage of the tournament offers further topics: in Cultral Có, a 26-meter-tall and 70-ton Messi statue was unveiled during the ongoing World Cup, while an older, previously largest Messi statue in Kolkata, India, was dismantled in early June for safety reasons.