€11 Million Sparks New Controversy Ahead of 2026 World Cup

The plan to sell portions of the turf from MetLife Stadium, which will host the 2026 World Cup final, has sparked a new controversy between New Jersey and FIFA. State officials have criticized the project, which could generate more than $11.2 million from selling pieces of grass to fans.

FIFA has started selling small pieces of the pitch through its official website, preserved in resin molds, with prices starting at $450 per piece. Other versions are available for $900, $1200, and $3000. A total of 2026 pieces from each category are being offered, which has sparked widespread objections in New Jersey.

State authorities believe that taxpayers are the ones who bore the cost of preparing the pitch, after the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority spent approximately $13.04 million on the design, construction, and maintenance of the turf to meet FIFA standards, asserting that the state deserves a share of any financial returns generated.

Steve Sigmund, spokesperson for New Jersey Governor, stated that the state has invested millions to prepare the field at MetLife Stadium, and therefore, taxpayers should receive a share of the profits generated from selling parts of it.

State legislators have escalated their rhetoric towards FIFA, asserting that the sale of portions of state-owned stadium land cannot proceed without official approval. They have even called for legal measures to stop the process.

Conversely, sources close to FIFA and the New York-New Jersey hosting committee have clarified that the international federation will receive less than 5% of the revenues from intellectual property rights, while the larger share will go to the joint hosting committee to fund future projects and investments in the region.

A FIFA spokesperson confirmed that the initiative is led by the host city committee and is not a profit-making project for the federation, emphasizing that claims about FIFA receiving over $11 million are "completely untrue." The spokesperson also noted that the program will only use about five yards of the pitch.

This crisis follows a series of previous disagreements between New Jersey authorities and FIFA during the tournament, the most notable being the dispute over train ticket prices to the stadium, as well as the controversy regarding the official naming of the stadium during the World Cup, amid calls from the state to highlight the name New Jersey more prominently in recognition of its significant financial contribution to hosting the tournament.