Neo Química Arena starts pitch repairs before Copa do Brasil clash

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Central do Timão

·7 September 2025

Neo Química Arena starts pitch repairs before Copa do Brasil clash

By Henrique Pereira / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Just a few minutes after the final whistle of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers, for the NFL Game held in São Paulo, the Neo Química Arena team quickly began dismantling the structures used for the event and started the pitch recovery protocol.

The stadium management guarantees that the field will be in perfect condition for Corinthians' next match, scheduled for Wednesday, the 10th, against Athletico-PR, for the Copa do Brasil.

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Photo: Vinícius Alves/ Agência Corinthians

Agronomist engineer João Paulo de Abreu, responsible for the care of the pitch, explained in an interview with Lance! the step-by-step process that will be carried out over the five days of preparation. The first stage consists of running a machine that brushes the grass, removing the tufts accumulated during the NFL game and lifting the turf to facilitate the next phase, which is mowing.

“Mowing helps to remove the light and dark marks left on the field by American football and also helps us make the standard soccer markings. The process will last all night tonight and we will keep working until Wednesday, when Corinthians' next game takes place,” explained the specialist.

“Next, we will start the process of removing the paint from the grass and erasing the American football field markings. We begin removing these marks with a wap (pressure washer), but we also use a scrubber, running water… all this to remove as much as possible. If any part remains, we apply a green dye over it,” João Paulo added.

In addition, specific products to strengthen the grass will be applied in the coming days, alongside traditional care such as irrigation and both natural and artificial lighting, to ensure the best possible condition for Timão's match.

Unlike what happened in 2024, when the arena's pitch was criticized by players from the Eagles and Packers, as well as by executives and the North American media, this time the evaluation was very positive. NFL stars such as Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones, as well as Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, praised the quality of the field.

The change in scenario is due to the adoption of measures recommended by the NFL itself, which took into account the criticism made last season. One of the main adjustments was in the control of the pitch irrigation, with management now monitoring more strictly the timing and frequency of watering the grass.

NFL Field Director Nick Pappas worked directly with the Brazilian team, providing guidance so that the stadium would meet the ideal standard required for North American teams.

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