Adrien Rabiot, France, Senegal, FIFA
17 June 2026
Adrien Rabiot has criticised the New York New Jersey Stadium pitch after France’s 3-1 World Cup win over Senegal, saying it felt closer to an artificial surface. The venue is due to host the final next month.
The stadium normally uses artificial turf but has temporary grass installed for the tournament. Rabiot’s comments follow Vinicius Junior’s earlier complaint about the same surface, increasing scrutiny on FIFA’s venue preparation and player welfare standards.