Fans all say same thing about ‘trash’ MetLife Stadium as first week of World Cup leads to FIFA plea

MetLife Stadium will host the World Cup final on July 19, but some fans are convinced soccer’s biggest game should be played elsewhere.

Renamed the New York New Jersey Stadium for this summer’s tournament, to comply with FIFA’s strict branding policy, the building has come under a global spotlight.

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High ticket prices, the cost of food and drink inside and even the overall aesthetics have already been slammed by fans — all with the World Cup final still a month away.

‘Trash’ MetLife Stadium slammed by World Cup viewers

“No soul. Give me a crumbling San Siro any day,” one wrote of MetLife Stadium — home to the NFL‘s New York Giants and New York Jets — on X.

“We literally hate this stadium with a passion in NY. Location, aesthetics — one of the worst in the country,” another said.

“It’s hard to imagine spending a billion dollars on such a soulless piece of s***,” a third said.

“That stadium is trash. Probably the worst I’ve ever visited,” a fourth concluded.

Even the controversial field turf, which has been replaced for the World Cup, has caused some concern amongst players.

“The pitch… I don’t even know if you can call it that,” France star Adrien Rabiot said, after his nation kicked off their campaign with a 3-1 win against Senegal.

“It felt more like an artificial surface – quite hard and quite rigid.”

But while MetLife has been drawing mixed reviews from players and fans, other stadiums across the US, Canada and Mexico, have starred.

The USMNT played their opener, a 4-1 win against Paraguay that has been one of the games of the group stage so far, at the $6 billion SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

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Soccer fans unfamiliar with the 70,000-seater venue, which opened six years ago, took to social media to label it the ‘best sports stadium in the world’ and suggested the US is already ‘living in 2050’.

Fans beg FIFA to make big change to World Cup final venue

Even older buildings, like Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Gillette Stadium in Boston and Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta have impressed fans, some of whom are struggling to believe they’re the same sites that regularly host NFL action.

Such has been the spectacle at places like AT&T in Dallas, SoFi in LA and the Linc, that plenty of fans have begged FIFA to move the World Cup final away from MetLife, to somewhere more ‘deserving’.

“I think that choosing MetLife was a horrible decision by FIFA to host the final. The pitch is in bad condition and the stadium is mid.” one said.

“The final should’ve been at SoFi or AT&T, not antiquated MetLife,” a second said.

“Giants and Jets fans want MetLife to spontaneously combust. Stadium has no business being the site for the final,” a third claimed.

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“Whoever chose MetLife to host the final should get fired. Stadium presentation doesn’t fit the World Cup at all. So many better they can pick from,” a fourth said.

A fifth wrote: “NYC is obviously a major draw, but I’m surprised FIFA went with MetLife for the World Cup final. SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Mercedes-Benz in Atlanta. AT&T in Dallas. The US has so many cool new stadiums, and they chose the least interesting option.”

Some were even so impressed by Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, which hosted the World Cup opening game, that they urged FIFA to move the final across the border.

“DEEPLY frustrating that the 2026 World Cup Final won’t be at the Azteca. Look at it. It’s a football cathedral,” one posted.

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“It’s INCREDIBLE that the AZTECA STADIUM won’t host the World Cup FINAL,” another wrote.

“Still time to save this World Cup. Move the final to the Azteca,” a third said.

“It’s a disgrace to the sport that this piece of s*** is hosting the World Cup final over the Azteca,” a fourth concluded, sharing a photo of MetLife Stadium.

Regardless of what fans think, FIFA’s showpiece event will, of course, be played in New York as planned.

But while MetLife Stadium has split opinions, soccer fans from around the world will continue to enjoy the games as they unfold at 15 other venues across North America.

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