9 months ago
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FIFA has announced the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host the 2026 World Cup final - and some fans are already furious.
The home of the New York Giants and Jets has been picked over Miami and Los Angeles to host the final, scheduled for July 19 after a mammoth tournament that takes place across three nations.
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The 2026 World Cup will head to United States, Mexico and Canada with a record 104 matches set to take place for the four-year tournament that is football's biggest competition.
However, the MetLife Stadium has garnered something of a reputation as a career-ender after some high-profile injuries to players in the last few years.
The biggest case, and most recent, is that of Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury just four minutes of the first game of the season.
The 40-year-old, who had left Green Bay Packers after 18 years, was playing in his first game for the Jets following his surprise trade last summer.
But what should have been a happy evening, ended in disaster when he was forced off after tearing his Achilles that ruled him out for the entire campaign.
As well as Rodgers, in recent years several Giants stars have been left crocked such as Darrian Beavers (ACL tear), Marcus McKethan (ACL tear), Sterling Shepard (ACL tear), Wan’Dale Robinson (ACL tear), Aaron Robinson (ACL tear), Blake Martinez (ACL tear), Jabril Peppers (ACL tear), Levine Toilolo (Achilles tear), Shane Lemieux (partal patellar tendon tear), Rodarius Williams (NYG) (ACL tear), T.J. Brunson (ACL tear), Jonotthan Harrison (Achilles injury) and Matt Peart (ACL tear) all in the last three years.
In addition, many opponents have not fared well either with Nick Bosa, who is preparing for the Super Bowl with the 49ers, one notable injury in seasons gone by.
After so many similar injuries in a short space of time, it has led fans to believe there is a curse on the MetLife Stadium.
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And while the pitch will ultimately be different for the World Cup final than its usual FieldTurf surface, many fans are still worried the stadium could cause problems.
One fan wrote: "They’re playing at MetLife?! Everyone gonna tear their ACL omg."
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Another posted on social media: "They NEED to reinforce that turf at MetLife or bring in some dirt cause ain’t no way I’m watching someone tear the ACL in a WC final."
And this fan put: "Of all the stadiums in this country, you choose this one."
While a fourth said: "MetLife stadium is cursed. Whose ACL is getting snatched??"
And another wrote: "MetLife turf is taking 3 ACL’s by halftime."
At a capacity of 82,500 and surrounded by the Manhattan skyline, the stadium is larger than several iconic European stadiums that have hosted the final, including the Stadio Olimpico (70,000), Stade de France (81,000) and Luzhniki Stadium (81,000).
As well as becoming a dangerous ground for athletes and their knees, the stadium has also been criticised for his its lack of transportation links.
The 2026 World Cup will also be the first to be expanded from 32 teams to 48, meaning the eventual winner will have to play eight matches to go all the way to glory.
