Field conditions are one of the most contentious issues surrounding the early Copa América matches. Although the tournament is just one week old, coaches and players have already been questioned a lot about different types of playing fields because artificial turf is used at many NFL stadiums instead of real grass.
Although there is a special method for cultivating grass on top of the turf, which will also be used during the 2026 World Cup, certain teams haven’t always been satisfied with the outcome.
In their opening game of the season versus Bolivia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, the U.S. men’s national team faced no problems. “I thought the field was great tonight,” head coach Gregg Berhalter remarked following the 2-0 victory. “I think it was one of the better fields we’ve played on in a while. A really quality field.”
Regarding the surface at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, there is some curiosity as the USMNT gets ready for its second group stage match against Panama on Thursday in Atlanta (6 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app). This is due to the fact that Argentina, the reigning Copa América and World Cup champions, defeated Canada 2-0 here last Thursday, and following the match, players expressed disapproval of the field. “The condition of the field was appalling,” goalie Emiliano Martínez informed the press. “Very bumpy. We must improve in this aspect. Otherwise, Copa América will always appear at a lower level than the European Championship.”
The field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is shared by Atlanta United of Major League Soccer and the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, is often artificial turf. On top, grass was put for Copa América. It will have been arranged for 12 days prior to the United States’ encounter with Panama, having been laid five days prior to the inaugural game between Argentina and Canada.
The USMNT hasn’t played on this field before; in fact, this Thursday’s game will mark the team’s first visit to Atlanta since 2015, when they defeated the Americans in the Gold Cup quarterfinal. 50,644 spectators witnessed the USWNT’s SheBelieves Cup match here in April, shattering the record for the biggest attendance for a home friendly.
A statement from Berhalter on Wednesday stated that “it’s hard to tell now” how the field seems. About a day before kickoff, the coach was given a quick preview, and the team has not practiced with it. According to Berhalter, “it appears to be in very good condition.” “We’re not sure how it’s gonna play though. I’m not sure [about] the base layers and stuff that they installed it on, but you know, it will be the same for both teams.” Still, how does he get his men ready to play on a field that the players from Argentina have criticized, particularly in terms of any worries about injuries, etc.?
After defeating Panama 3-1 on Sunday, Uruguay now leads Group C on goal differential, with the USMNT in second place. The Americans may advance to the quarterfinals with a victory on Thursday; goal differential won’t be an issue if they defeat La Celeste in Kansas City on Monday. The United States would want to deny more opportunities to Panama, something it found difficult to achieve against Bolivia. The USMNT has a 17-2-7 all-time record versus Los Canaleros, a more recognizable opponent. But in their most recent match, which took place in the Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal last summer, Panama prevailed via penalty shootout. Prior to it, the two teams’ FIFA World Cup 2022 qualification matches were tied.
