France midfielder Rabiot joins Vinicius in criticising World Cup final pitch
Summary
France's midfielder Adrien Rabiot and Brazil's forward Vinicius Jr. both criticized the playing surface at the MetLife Stadium, which will host the 2026 World Cup final. They said the pitch felt hard, dry, and more like an artificial surface, affecting the players' ability to perform smoothly.Key Facts
- Adrien Rabiot said the MetLife Stadium pitch felt more like an artificial surface—hard and rigid.
- The stadium is in New York/New Jersey and will host the World Cup final on July 19, 2026.
- France won their opening World Cup match 3-1 against Senegal on this pitch.
- Brazil’s Vinicius Jr. complained about the pitch drying out quickly in the heat, making play sluggish.
- France coach Didier Deschamps described the pitch as having a "special surface," mentioning concrete underneath and very short grass fibers.
- The pitch felt different from how it was during the FIFA Club World Cup held there previously.
- Senegal will next play at the MetLife Stadium against Norway on June 22.
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