Borussia Dortmund’s Coach Critiques MetLife Stadium Conditions
Borussia Dortmund’s head coach, Niko Kovač, expressed his disappointment with the MetLife Stadium’s conditions, stating the field resembled more of a golf course than an appropriate venue for a soccer match. Following the team’s elimination from the Club World Cup after a 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid, Kovač remarked on the turf’s quality, declaring it unsuitable for high-caliber soccer and criticized the heat during summer in New Jersey.
“This pitch feels more like a golf green; it’s incredibly short,” Kovač noted. “We aren’t accustomed to this type of grass in the Bundesliga or the other stadiums we’ve played in during this tournament.”
Dortmund participated in their opening group game at MetLife, which will also host the semifinals and the championship of the Club World Cup, along with next year’s World Cup final. The team also competed at Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium and in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium during the tournament.
Kovač suggested that the watering system at MetLife Stadium was inadequate, resulting in a pitch that, under these dry conditions, caused the ball to stick unexpectedly.
Weather Challenges and Player Performance
Humidity was a factor during the match, with the temperature soaring to 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) at kickoff. Similar weather is anticipated for the upcoming World Cup, which will take place across 11 venues in the U.S., many lacking roofs or air conditioning. In a nod to the challenges posed by the climate, he recalled 1994’s World Cup, where 28 of the 52 matches kicked off between noon and 2 p.m. EDT, a schedule intended for European audiences.
Kovač highlighted the extreme conditions faced in their previous Cincinnati matches, mentioning 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius) on the second match day.
“When the temperature is that high, it’s incredibly taxing for the players, making it hard to maintain a high energy level during games,” he lamented.
Today’s 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) was still taxing, he added, suggesting later kickoff times to accommodate players and enhance the quality of the game, which ideally should promote an exciting, fast-paced style of football for fans to enjoy.
