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France midfielder Rabiot joins Vinicius in criticising World Cup final pitch
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France midfielder Rabiot joins Vinicius in criticising World Cup final pitch

France 24 · Jun 17, 2026, 12:57 AM · Also reported by 4 other sources

Key takeaways

  • By: FRANCE 24 Adrien Rabiot in action during France's World Cup opener against Senegal.
  • Rabiot, who bagged an assist ⁠in France's Group I opener, said the ground set to host the World Cup final ‌in July felt less like a real pitch and ⁠more like an artificial surface.
  • Read moreWorld Cup 2026: Mbappé becomes France's record scorer as Les Bleus down valiant Senegal

Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.

France midfielder Adrien Rabiot said the pitch "felt more like an artificial surface" after Les Bleus opened their World Cup campaign with a 3-1 victory over Senegal on Tuesday at the Met Life Stadium in New Jersey, which will host the final game of the tournament on July 19.

By: FRANCE 24 Adrien Rabiot in action during France's World Cup opener against Senegal. © Adam Hunger, AP France's Adrien Rabiot raised concerns about the quality of ​the pitch at the New York/New Jersey stadium, also known as the MetLife Stadium, after their 3-1 win over Senegal on Tuesday, echoing Brazil forward Vinicius Jr's frustration with ​the dryness ‌of the surface.

Rabiot, who bagged an assist ⁠in France's Group I opener, said the ground set to host the World Cup final ‌in July felt less like a real pitch and ⁠more like an artificial surface.

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