Frank Christian
The condition of playing surfaces across the United States during the 2024 Copa America has received criticism from coaches and players throughout the tournament.
Venues have installed fresh grass pitches for the competition, some replacing turf or accommodating other events like concerts.
Hard Rock Stadium in Miami is hosting the final between Argentina and Colombia, raising concerns about the playing surface.
Our team is present at the stadium to provide live updates on the pitch before and during the match.
Stay updated with a live blog covering the 2024 Copa America final for Argentina vs. Colombia.
State of the Copa America Final Pitch in Miami
Prior to the 2024 Copa America final at Hard Rock Stadium, an examination of the playing field indicated potential issues similar to those experienced at other venues during the tournament.
Although the stadium normally has a natural grass surface, it was recently replaced due to a concert event on July 6, with reinstallation completed just four days before the match, as reported by the Associated Press.
Inspection of the surface a few hours before kick-off revealed it was hard and lacked flexibility, common traits of temporary or new pitches with lesser depth than permanent fields.
The surface seemed to have minimal depth visible, with noticeable seams that had been a point of contention for Uruguay’s coach Marcelo Bielsa earlier in the competition.
Following a delay in the match start due to gate issues, the field underwent two rounds of warmups once the players took the field.
After the warmups, the pitch was watered using embedded sprinklers.
Criticism of Copa America Playing Surfaces
Many players and coaches have expressed dissatisfaction with the pitches used across various venues in the US during the 2024 Copa America.
Argentina’s team raised concerns about the hard field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, affecting ball bounce during play.
Players like Emiliano Martinez and Julian Alvarez criticized the conditions, stating they were not conducive to their style of play.
Brazil’s Vinicius Jr. and Peru’s coach Jorge Fossati also highlighted issues with the pitches, along with complaints from U.S. midfielder Weston McKennie.
Uruguay’s coach Marcelo Bielsa was particularly vocal, accusing tournament organizers of misrepresenting field conditions and silencing dissenting voices.
