MetLife Stadium to host France-Sénégal and World Cup final, not in New York | OneFootball

MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will stage France-Sénégal on Tuesday at 21:00 French time, then the World Cup final on 19 July. It also hosted Brazil 1-1 Morocco on Saturday.

According to L'Équipe, it sits about eight kilometres west of New York in marshland. Matchday traffic means about an hour by bus from Manhattan, which makes it unpopular with New Yorkers. It rises from vast car parks, a spaceship in the middle of nowhere.

Open since 2010, the 80,000-seater cost about €1.5bn and feels unmistakably modern. Three tiers, generous seats, escalators everywhere and dense food options underline the American approach. Circulation is smooth and sightlines are good, a clear commercial model.

Four giant screens sit in each corner, nearly three times those commonly seen in France. Hospitality and boxes are extensive, and most media work from glassed press boxes, cut off from the noise.

Despite the outlay, there is no roof, which hurts fans in rain or strong sun at 12:00 or 15:00 summer kick-offs. That is unusual by European standards, yet common in NFL venues in Boston, Philadelphia, Kansas City and San Francisco.

Colours are deliberately neutral and muted, a by-product of co-tenancy by the New York Giants and the New York Jets. Dressing it for one would antagonise the other.

It may not lodge long in the memory, but it is functional and suited to a World Cup final. Some would rather see the decider at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico.

Source: L'Équipe