Arsenal has called on UEFA to intervene and check the height of the grass at the Wanda Metropolitano. The Gunners raised concerns that the turf might be too long and potentially not in compliance with regulations.
Arsenal was unsure whether the pitch at the Wanda Metropolitano met the required standards. According to the rules, the grass height must be between 21 and 30 mm. After inspection, UEFA delivered its verdict: the grass measured at 26 mm, making it perfectly compliant.
Nevertheless, signs of unease were visible on the English side. Around an hour before Wednesday’s semi-final first leg, Arsenal staff members were seen in a heated discussion with officials on the pitch. Other concerns briefly surfaced about the watering, which was considered excessive, but these were quickly dismissed.
This kind of controversy is nothing new. FC Barcelona lodged a similar complaint in a previous round, while Tottenham also experienced notable difficulties on this same pitch in the round of 16.
Arsenal requested that UEFA inspect the pitch at the Metropolitano to confirm the length of the grass 🌿@GuillemBalague and @delpieroale discuss the “grass war” that took place prematch 😅 pic.twitter.com/sGNeJNxxjb
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 29, 2026
Out on the pitch, the opening minutes seemed to lend weight to the criticism. Several players, including Piero Hincapié and Koke, slipped, fueling further debate about the state of the surface. Some observers shared the impression that the turf was far from optimal for such a high-level fixture.
Piala Dunia 2026
Piala Dunia FIFA 2026 akan menjadi edisi paling revolusioner dalam sejarah sepak bola dunia. Turnamen ini untuk pertama kalinya akan diselenggarakan di tiga negara sekaligus, yaitu Amerika Serikat, Kanada, dan Meksiko. Selain itu, jumlah peserta juga meningkat dari 32 menjadi 48 tim, membuka peluang lebih besar bagi negara-negara dari berbagai konfederasi untuk tampil di panggung global. Format baru ini akan menghadirkan lebih banyak pertandingan, atmosfer kompetisi yang lebih luas, serta jangkauan penonton yang semakin besar di seluruh dunia.
Dengan skala yang jauh lebih besar, FIFA menargetkan turnamen ini sebagai ajang yang tidak hanya kompetitif tetapi juga spektakuler dari sisi teknologi dan pengalaman penonton. Stadion-stadion modern di berbagai kota tuan rumah telah dipersiapkan untuk menghadirkan pertandingan berkelas dunia, didukung oleh inovasi seperti peningkatan sistem VAR dan pengalaman digital bagi fans. diprediksi akan menjadi tonggak baru dalam evolusi sepak bola internasional, memperkuat popularitas olahraga ini sekaligus menciptakan momen-momen bersejarah yang akan dikenang dalam waktu lama.
