France began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over Senegal, with Kylian Mbappe scoring two decisive goals.
Despite not at their best form in the first 45-minutes of the tie, France found their rhythm in the second half to send a statement to other participating nations.
While fans believe the match delivered what was expected, Adrien Rabiot was left far from impressed with the playing conditions in North America.
The experienced midfielder hit out at the state of the pitch at the New York New Jersey Stadium, claiming the surface made for a difficult and laboured opening fixture.
Adrien Rabiot controls the Ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between France and Senegal. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
Raibot who played the full 90 minutes and provided an assist for Bradley Barcola, did not hold back in his post-match assessment. “The pitch… I don’t even know if you can call it that. It felt more like an artificial surface – quite hard and quite rigid,” He said when discussing the conditions after the game.
His frustrations follow similar comments made by Brazil sensation Vinicius Junior, who struggled with the lack of moisture on the pitch during the Selecao’s 1-1 draw with Morocco at the same venue.
“In the second half, with the heat, the pitch dries out very quickly. The game becomes very sluggish and we can’t get into our rhythm,” Vinicius said.
The New York New Jersey Stadium, which serves as the home for the NFL’s New York Giants and Jets, had a temporary grass pitch installed specifically for the tournament.
The stadium has long been under the microscope for its playing surface, particularly in the NFL where it has gained a reputation for causing serious injuries.
Despite this, the 78,576-capacity stadium is scheduled to host the World Cup Final on July 19.
