As Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina approaches, attention has turned to whether MetLife Stadium was the right choice to host it, given persistent criticism of the New Jersey venue throughout the tournament. While other host stadiums, including Mexico's Azteca, LA's Sofi Stadium and Dallas's AT&T Stadium, have drawn praise for their history or facilities, MetLife has faced sustained scrutiny over its design, transport links and pitch quality, despite being handed the showpiece final.

Opened in 2010 at a cost of $1.6bn, the stadium is a shared home for the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets and holds up to 82,500 spectators across 200 luxury suites, but locals and commentators, including columnist Steve Politi, have long described its look as bland or "blah". Situated in the Meadowlands Sports Complex, roughly five miles from Manhattan, the venue is hard to reach without a car and prone to heavy congestion, with fans reporting costly rideshare journeys and $98 train tickets, though the rail commute itself was generally regarded as efficient.