The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States is facing mounting criticism as players and coaches raise alarms over substandard pitch conditions, adding to earlier concerns about scorching heat and sparse stadium attendance. The backlash comes just a year ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the U.S. is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.
“Ball Bounces Like a Rabbit”: Players and Coaches Speak Out
Top stars including Achraf Hakimi, Jude Bellingham, and PSG manager Luis Enrique have publicly condemned the quality of the playing surfaces.
“The pitches here are nowhere near the quality of those in Europe. They look good, but the ball bounces like a rabbit,” Enrique said after PSG’s 2–0 win over Seattle Sounders.
Bellingham echoed the sentiment, calling the turf “tough on the knees” and urging FIFA to address the issue before the 2026 World Cup.
Temporary Turf, Dry Grass, and Player Safety Concerns
Many stadiums, including MetLife Stadium and Bank of America Stadium, are using temporary natural grass laid over artificial turf. These surfaces dry quickly under the intense summer heat, affecting ball control and increasing injury risks.
“It slows us down when the pitch is dry,” said Hakimi, highlighting how the conditions hinder possession-based teams.
FIFA Under Pressure Ahead of 2026 World Cup
Despite FIFA’s claims of over 1.5 million tickets sold, visuals of empty seats and midday kickoffs in extreme heat have sparked debate over the tournament’s planning. Critics argue that the venue choices, scheduling, and lack of player safeguards reflect poorly on FIFA’s readiness for next year’s global showpiece.
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