The 2024 Copa América started on June 20 with what should've been only a celebratory occasion. In front of 70,524 fans at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, reigning FIFA World Cup champions Argentina triumphed 2-0 over Canada in a perhaps surprisingly competitive game. But talk of the result faded into the background after the players voiced frustration and anger over the conditions of the field provided by CONMEBOL.
With the 2026 World Cup set to be played in many of the same venues across the United States, each new controversy over pitch conditions at Copa América accentuates the ongoing concerns about the quality of the venues and the difficulty of using NFL stadiums for soccer.