The between Argentina and Canada was performed on a pitch that felt “like a trampoline,” or “like strolling on a stage” that was “hole,” gamers mentioned.
“The sector situations have been very ugly,” after his .
The momentary grass floor at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta “was a catastrophe,” Argentine goalkeeper Emi Martinez repeated a number of instances.
These weren’t excuses, gamers and Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni clarified. “Thank goodness we gained,” Scaloni mentioned. However “this is not a great area,” he added. “Sincerely, the sector will not be apt for these gamers.”
It was the primary of a number of makeshift surfaces which have been or will probably be laid down for the , whose 32 video games are being hosted by 14 completely different venues throughout the USA.
Eleven of the 14 are NFL stadiums. Six of the 11 usually host American soccer video games on synthetic turf. However worldwide soccer has lengthy been averse to artificial turf, which might negatively influence each participant well being and the circulate of a recreation.
So, for many high-profile stateside soccer video games — together with the Copa América and 2026 World Cup — grass fields are introduced in and put in, both on prime of the turf or as a substitute of it on a stadium’s cement ground.
Changing turf with grass, although, doesn’t routinely convey a floor as much as worldwide customary. Numerous international gamers and coaches have complained about them over time. The fields might be harmful if panels of grass aren’t correctly fused collectively. They are often too agency, or too squishy, or too uneven. With out correct irrigation methods, they are often dry and maintain up the ball.
“In truth,” , “the sector made it a bit sophisticated for us.”
And the most recent spherical of complaints naturally sparked issues about how this longstanding difficulty would possibly influence the grandest sporting occasion on Earth, the World Cup.
The whole U.S. portion of the will probably be performed at NFL venues; Mercedes-Benz Stadium, one of many 11, will host eight video games, together with a semifinal.
The fields put in for the World Cup, although, will probably be completely different from those put in for this Copa América. And your entire course of will probably be far more intensive.
In Atlanta, for instance, the Copa América floor was laid a couple of days in the past, whereas .
Pitches have been considered one of FIFA’s prime priorities ever because the U.S. was chosen to co-host the 2026 World Cup again in June of 2018, folks aware of the group of the match have advised Yahoo Sports activities. At some stadiums, together with Atlanta’s, irrigation and air flow methods have already been put in in preparation for the match. And in some instances, the extremely particular, rigorously designed grass that can underpin the is already being cultivated.
FIFA has even greatest practices in grass-growing.
And it has labored with officers in any respect 11 U.S. stadiums to plan plans for implementation and upkeep, in order that all of them meet very detailed (and dear) calls for.
“We’re trying on the pitch conversion, and the way that conversion goes to be achieved to make it a pure grass floor that can truly survive the period of the match,” 2026 World Cup chief Heimo Schirgi mentioned on a go to to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, final yr.
That, Schirgi admitted, “is a big problem.”
At Mercedes-Benz Stadium this winter, after the Atlanta Falcons’ season concluded, turf was eliminated in order that work on the underground irrigation system might start. The World Cup grass will then be put in in early 2026, and maintained for months via the tip of the match.
So, why couldn’t the grass be put in for the 2024 Copa América, and even completely?
Normally, the reply is that synthetic turf can higher accommodate and face up to non-sporting occasions like concert events — which pad every stadium proprietor’s pockets with extra income. It is also cheaper to keep up.
In Atlanta, after the 2026 World Cup concludes — despite the fact that a Main League Soccer workforce, Atlanta United, performs its house video games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium — the grass will probably be eliminated and turf reinstalled.
The turf remained in place final weekend for Atlanta United’s MLS recreation in opposition to the Houston Dynamo. Argentine media adopted that recreation and famous that the floor hadn’t but been modified; some have been perplexed.
“We’ve identified we have been going to play right here for seven months,” Scaloni mentioned postgame. “They usually modified the grass two days in the past. It’s not good for the spectacle. I’m sorry.”
Nor was it good for the gamers. The ball, Martinez mentioned, was “leaping.”
“Having to play this competitors on such an unsightly area like that is unlucky,” Romero advised Argentine community TyC Sports activities.
Subsequent, they may journey to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, one other NFL stadium that’s rolling in momentary grass to switch its synthetic turf. Comparable processes will play out at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California; Financial institution of America Stadium in Charlotte; AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas; and NRG Stadium in Houston.
Three of the opposite Copa América venues are soccer-specific MLS stadiums, the place the floor shouldn’t be an issue. The remaining — Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California; State Farm Stadium in Arizona; Allegiant Stadium in better Las Vegas; Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas Metropolis; and Onerous Rock Stadium in better Miami — usually stage video games on Bermuda grass.