FIFA faces criticism from Kovac over Club World Cup, with calls for necessary Changes - Criticizes Kovac World Cup format; Advocates for FIFA modifications
In the aftermath of Borussia Dortmund's elimination from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, held in the USA, coach Niko Kovac has voiced concerns about the tournament's conditions and their potential impact on the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, also set to take place mainly in the USA.
Kovac, in particular, has highlighted the extreme heat players endured during the tournament, with matches played as early as midday under temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius. The coach believes that later kickoff times could help mitigate this issue, as he observed a higher intensity of play and better performance from athletes in an evening kickoff, such as the 9 p.m. match in Atlanta.
Moreover, Kovac has criticised the pitch conditions, describing the MetLife Stadium field as more suited for golf than football. He noted that the grass was very short, dry, and sticking, conditions quite different from what his team is accustomed to in the Bundesliga and at other stadiums. Kovac also criticised the watering system at MetLife Stadium, claiming it to be inadequate, leading to a very dry pitch under the summer sun.
The coach has called on FIFA to consider changes for next year's World Cup, expressing a wish for some consideration to be given to the players. He believes it is questionable to expect footballers to perform at their peak in such conditions. Kovac has suggested improvements in pitch maintenance, especially watering systems, to ensure better playing surfaces in the face of extreme heat and unfamiliar grass conditions anticipated at the upcoming World Cup.
Kovac's comments were made in response to the tournament's scheduling and the impact on player performance due to high temperatures. After his team's 2:3 (0:2) defeat against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, Kovac expressed his views, adding that the Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup need adjustments in certain areas to ensure a fair and competitive tournament for all participating teams.
The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment, considering Kovac's concerns about unfavorable pitch conditions at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which he believes were more suitable for sports like golf rather than football. Despite the challenging heat and pitch conditions, Kovac remains hopeful that the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup will address these issues, ensuring better performance for all football teams participating.
