Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac rails against MetLife Stadium grass
Share and Follow

The complaints about the MetLife Stadium field are unrelenting.

Borussia Dortmund, the German soccer club, faced elimination by Real Madrid in the FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday.

“It’s more a golf green, so you can putt here,” manager Niko Kovač said after his side’s 3-2 loss. “It’s very short. But this is not the grass we are used to playing on in the Bundesliga and also in the other two stadiums.”


Niko Kovac looks on during the Borussia Dortmund-Real Madrid match on July 5, 2025.
Niko Kovač looks on during the Borussia Dortmund-Real Madrid match on July 5, 2025. FIFA via Getty Images

MetLife Stadium usually has an artificial turf field when the Giants and Jets play there, but installed grass fields in order to meet FIFA’s regulations for hosting games.

Kovač preferred the grass fields at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

“As you saw, the watering wasn’t good enough, I would say, because you don’t have the devices for that,” Kovač said of the MetLife Stadium grass. “When it’s too dry, it’s unbelievable. It’s sticking.”

No matter where you are in the world, you can watch the FIFA Club World Cup for free on DAZN. All you need to get started is an email address. No subscription is required, but you will have to make a free account on the streamer to start watching.

DAZN also has premium, paid options available to enhance your viewing experience with HDR picture, Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound, and fewer ads. DAZN Premium plans begin at $19.99/month.

NFL players have long complained about the turf fields at MetLife Stadium, and the NFL Players Association last month took notice of the decision to install grass for the Club World Cup, but not for NFL games.

Despite the willingness to install a grass field for other sports, Giants owner John Mara has maintained that it would not be sustainable for football, given two teams play at the stadium, the weather and the large number of other events there.


MetLife Stadium field with "Please Stay Off Grass" sign.
Grass fields were installed at MetLife Stadium for the Club World Cup. REUTERS

“I want to get to the point where the experts can tell us that late in the season we can have a safe, playable grass field, and when we get to that point, then maybe we’ll make the switch,” Mara said at last year’s NFL owners meetings. “We’re not there yet.

“With the amount of events in our building, particularly during the football season, having two teams there, and how many times last year we had back-to-back games where it rained during the first game, I can’t imagine what a grass field would’ve looked like on a second day.”

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Delta pilot arrested after landing at California airport charged in child sex abuse case

Delta Pilot Detained After Landing in California, Faces Charges in Child Sexual Abuse Case

SAN FRANCISCO — The Contra Costa County District Attorney in Northern California…
Florida woman charged with child neglect after leaving 2 children in sweltering vehicle

Florida woman charged with child neglect after leaving 2 children in sweltering vehicle

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A mother in Florida…
Trump 'considering' a pardon for Diddy as mogul awaits sentencing

Trump Contemplates Pardoning Diddy as Mogul Faces Sentencing

Donald Trump is ‘seriously considering’ a pardon for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs as the disgraced…
What are the tsunami alert levels? What do you do if you get a tsunami alert?

Understanding Tsunami Alert Levels and What Steps to Take

Some tsunamis are small and don’t cause damage. Others can cause massive…
Priscilla Presley, 80, surfaces with pained look in LA

Priscilla Presley, 80, Spotted With a Distressed Expression in LA

Elvis Presley’s ex-wife Priscilla Presley appeared downcast, wearing a pained facial expression,…
Edgewood Avenue Atlanta mass shooting 1 killed 10 others wounded

Tragic Mass Shooting on Edgewood Avenue in Atlanta: 1 Dead, 10 Injured

The victim who died is a 27-year-old male. One other victim, an…
NYC shooting timeline shows gunman moved with speed in cross-country drive that ended with office bloodshed

NYC shooting timeline shows gunman moved with speed in cross-country drive that ended with office bloodshed

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Four people are dead…
Married teacher avoids jail for sexting boy as rape charges dropped

Married Teacher Sidesteps Jail Time for Sexting Minor After Rape Charges Are Dismissed

A married teacher from Missouri has managed to avoid a prison sentence…