Reece James has raised concerns over the quality of football pitches in the United States ahead of the World Cup.
The US are the main host country of next summer's tournament, with other matches scheduled at stadiums in Canada and Mexico.
New Jersey's MetLife Stadium used 'grass for the future' at the Club World Cup
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New Jersey's MetLife Stadium used 'grass for the future' at the Club World CupCredit: Getty
In a first for the World Cup, there will be 48 teams competing instead of 32 across 12 groups before the knockout stages.
Whilst the prestigious competition was played on US soil as recently as 1994, the Club World Cup this summer seemingly served as a test run.
Chelsea were crowned champions by beating Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the final on Sunday, with James starring at the MetLife Stadium.
However, the Blues captain believes improvements must be made to the pitches before the 2026 World Cup begins on June 11.
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"The venue is top, the pitches are not so good," he told reporters at the New Jersey venue, which will host the final on July 19 next year.
"Hopefully there's some changes for the World Cup next year."
When asked about what could be improved, James replied: "I don't know. I think the pitches are...
"There's astro underneath and maybe grass on top. It's not the best for the body, for the joints, for the muscles.
"You lot will see higher quality games and higher quality football if we played on surfaces that we play on in Europe."
The MetLife Stadium, the home of NFL teams New York Giants and New York Jets, has used FieldTurf Core HD surfacing since 2023.
James has suggested that improvements will be beneficial for next summer
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James has suggested that improvements will be beneficial for next summerCredit: AFP
The MetLife Stadium turf didn't seem to suit those who played on it
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The MetLife Stadium turf didn't seem to suit those who played on itCredit: Getty
A 'multi-layer dual-polymer fiber', it's designed for a 'more realistic, textured, grass-like shape' with 'optimal durability and resiliency'.
Natural grass was used at the Club World Cup, and is planned to be installed for the 2026 World Cup too.
"It seems to be what we believe will be an outstanding surface for the tournament," pitch manager Blair Christiansen said via The Athletic.
"We believe this is the grass for the future of FIFA here," he also said, but the first Club World Cup match in the stadium drew criticism.
"In the beginning, the pitch was dry," Palmeiras boss Abel Ferreira said after their 0-0 draw against Porto. "I don’t know who is the patron saint for rain but after it rained it then enabled us to play our game."
Porto star Ze Pedro added: "I do feel like the pitch caused us to be a bit imprecise.
The MetLife Stadium will be one of 16 venues at the World Cup
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The MetLife Stadium will be one of 16 venues at the World CupCredit: Getty
"This was particularly when we wanted to accelerate the game. There were some mistakes that happened [as a result] but the grass is the same for both teams. We had to adapt."
The MetLife Stadium will host five group stage matches at the 2026 World Cup, as well as round of 32 and last 16 matches before the final.
It boasts a capacity of 82,500, although Estadio Azteca in Mexico City can accommodate the most fans with 87,523.
2026 World Cup Stadiums and capacities
United States:
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey - 82,500
AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas - 80,000
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri - 76,416
NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas - 72,220
Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia - 71,000
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California - 70,240
Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington - 68,740
Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California - 68,500
Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - 67,594
Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida - 64,767
Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts - 64,628
Canada:
BC Place in Vancouver - 54,500
BMO Field in Toronto - 28,180
Mexico:
Estadio Banorte in Mexico City - 87,523
Estadio BBVA in Monterrey - 53,500
Estadio Akron in Guadalajara - 49,813