Episode
World Cup 2026: A stadium fit for a final?
- Podcast
- More than the Score
- Published
- Jun 22, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1491
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0ntdxyd
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Summary
The New York-New Jersey Stadium - usually known as the MetLife Stadium - will host this year's World Cup final on 19 July. It's best known as the home of the NFL's two New York teams, the Giants and the Jets, and concerns have been raised about its suitability for football's biggest game. France and Arsenal defender William Saliba is among the critics - he said the pitch "wasn't great" and "more like artificial turf" following his country's 3-1 win over Senegal. One man who knows plenty about the stadium is Super Bowl winning former New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz. He talks to More than the Score's Lee James about his experiences of playing at the MetLife, and reflects on how football's popularity is now soaring among young Americans. He also shares his admiration for France star Kylian Mbappe. Lee's also joined from Philadelphia by the BBC's John Bennett. They hear from fans from Panama, Argentina and Brazil about their experiences of World Cup 2026 - are high prices affecting their enjoyment? All this summer, More than the Score brings you more than the men’s football World Cup - the new teams, standout stars and fandoms shaping the tournament in ways the stats don’t show. Search for More than the Score, wherever you get your BBC podcasts.