The 2026 World Cup Hosts Are in a Tight Spot: Can the United States, Mexico, and Canada Deliver on Pitch Quality?
The 2026 World Cup is just around the corner, and the three host countries – the United States, Mexico, and Canada – are already under scrutiny. After the mixed bag of results in this summer’s Copa América, held in the US, there’s no denying the teams’ on-field preparedness for the biggest tournament in the world is a concern. But what about the off-field aspect? The playing conditions in US stadiums themselves have been under the microscope, and the results have been anything but reassuring.
Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which hosted the opening match of the Copa América between Argentina and Canada, was a prime example of the problems plaguing US stadiums. "They knew seven months ago that we’d play here and they changed the field two days ago," Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni raged. "It’s not an excuse, but this isn’t a good field. Sincerely, the field is not apt for these kinds of players."
The lack of preparation and infrastructure is staggering. Conmebol, South American soccer’s governing body, ordered the stadiums to use artificial turf and install natural grass panels on top. But the process was hurried, with Atlanta’s pitch work beginning just three days before the opener. Visible issues with the playing surface were not only an issue there, but throughout the tournament, coaches and players criticized the substandard pitches.
Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior summed up the frustration: "The Copa América is always difficult because of the pitches, because of the referees who always go against us… It’s always difficult, but we have to stay strong. We can only talk by winning."
The pressure is mounting on the US, Mexico, and Canada to get it right ahead of the World Cup. With a mixture of NFL stadiums, soccer-specific MLS venues, and hybrid arenas selected for the tournament, ensuring a uniformity of playing surfaces is crucial. Fifa is taking a different approach, with artificial turf venues instructed to install hybrid surfaces combining natural grass with artificial fibers. The clock is ticking for the hosts to sort out their pitch woes.
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Key Stats:
- The 2026 World Cup will take place in 11 cities across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
- Eight of the 14 venues used for the 2024 Copa América will be employed again for the World Cup.
- Conmebol ordered the installation of natural grass panels on top of artificial turf in some stadiums for the Copa América, with mixed results.
- Fifa is now instructing artificial turf venues for the World Cup to install hybrid surfaces combining natural grass and artificial fibers.
- The hosts have until 2026 to deliver on their promise of pitch quality to avoid embarrassment before the eyes of the world.