The MetLife Stadium, located on the outskirts of New York City, began on Thursday (7) to feature natural grass that will be used in the World Cup matches hosted there, including the grand final, on July 19.
The new turf, which replaces the artificial grass used in American football (NFL) games, was cultivated over several months in North Carolina, with the aim of meeting the standards of the world’s premier football tournament.
“It’s only right that the best players on the planet have the best pitch on the planet, and that’s what we’re trying to achieve,” said David Graham, FIFA’s senior pitch manager.
Turf quality is often the subject of intense scrutiny during World Cups. In previous editions, there were complaints that the grass was too dry, too soft or even slippery.
Graham said FIFA’s research, including work carried out on an indoor pitch in Tennessee, will ensure the playing surface meets the required standards.
“When it comes to delivering a pitch for the World Cup or a tournament, having that data, having that whole thought process at our disposal has been very beneficial,” he said. “I wouldn’t be able to do my job without all this information.”
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with a capacity of 82,500, is the home of the NFL’s Giants and Jets, who play on artificial turf.
On Thursday, work crews installed the new pitch, placing dozens of rectangular blocks across the playing field.
The lawn is laid on a 45-centimeter layer of sand, which houses its own integrated ventilation and irrigation system. A device similar to a sewing machine will join the individual blocks together, filling in the seams and creating a continuous carpet of grass.
The stadium, which will be renamed New York New Jersey Stadium for the World Cup, will host eight matches during the tournament, which takes place from June 11 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
