The pitches at the Club World Cup in the United States have come under fire, with Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique voicing his frustration over the quality of the playing surfaces following his side’s 2–0 win over the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field, Seattle.
The Spanish manager described the pitch as “a problem for our game,” noting that the ball “bounced like a rabbit” and stressing that the surface conditions are far inferior to those in Europe. “Lumen Field is a typical example – from artificial turf to natural grass, which has to be watered manually. They watered it at half-time, but within ten minutes it was dry again. This disrupts our style of play. The grass is different and it’s hard to maintain the same fluidity.”
Enrique called on FIFA to take the quality of both match and training pitches seriously if the Club World Cup is to be recognised as a premier global tournament.
Bellingham Also Critical: ‘The pitches hold the ball – tough on the knees’
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham echoed Enrique’s concerns after his side’s 3–1 victory over Pachuca: “The pitches are not good at all. They hold the ball and are tough on the knees. I hope this is addressed before the World Cup.”
Concerns Ahead of the 2026 World Cup
The issue is especially pressing as five of this year’s Club World Cup venues – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Hard Rock Stadium, MetLife Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field and Lumen Field – are also set to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. These stadiums are primarily used by NFL teams and typically feature artificial turf, with FIFA temporarily laying natural grass for international tournaments. However, players and coaches argue that these stopgap solutions are inadequate, as the grass is often dry, uneven, and fails to meet the standards of modern football.
Extreme Weather and Player Fatigue
In addition to the poor pitch conditions, teams are also contending with extreme heat. Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovač likened the conditions to a “sauna,” while players have reported fatigue and a heightened risk of injury.
