Mckennie Criticizes Copa América: Low Attendance, Poor Pitch Conditions

The 48th edition of the Copa América, held this summer in the United States, has generated considerable discontent.

With the tournament relocating to North America, Argentine Manager Lionel Scaloni and players previously complained about the pitch conditions. Now, even US player Weston McKennie has joined the chorus of criticism, expressing dissatisfaction with the atmosphere and the state of the playing fields.

McKennie voiced his disappointment with the matchday ambiance: “It’s frustrating as a player when you’re in a stadium that can hold 70,000 people, but there are only 25,000 in attendance. The emptiness really takes away from the experience.”

Besides the attendance issue, he also sternly criticized the quality of the pitches: “The ground was uneven, and you could feel the looseness and cracks with almost every step.”

The reason for the subpar fields partly lies in the fact that many venues primarily host NFL games. Despite laying natural grass over artificial turf for the Copa América, these efforts seem not to have been universally praised by the players.

McKennie expressed deep frustration with the overall organization and pitch conditions: “It’s definitely disappointing to experience this.”

He further drew comparisons between the Copa América and the UEFA European Championship, highlighting the latter’s superior infrastructure: “Thinking back to matches in Germany, all teams played in big stadiums with fantastic pitches, which undoubtedly enhanced the quality and spectacle of the games.”