Women’s World Cup 2015: Concerns Mount Over Synthetic Turf in Canada
With less than a year to go until the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada, concerns are mounting among players over the tournament’s planned use of synthetic pitches.
Set to take place from 6 June to 5 July, the competition will mark the first time a senior World Cup — men’s or women’s — is played entirely on artificial turf. But the decision has sparked criticism from some of the sport’s leading voices, including Olympique Lyonnais and France international midfielder Camille Abily.
Speaking to L’Équipe, Abily, a veteran with 137 caps for the French national team, voiced strong opposition to the decision, questioning the fairness and implications for player welfare.
“Would FIFA make the same choice for a men’s World Cup?” Abily asked. “The players would be the first to object. There’s a real issue of fairness here — it’s unacceptable.”
Abily argued that a global showcase like the Women’s World Cup should offer the best possible playing conditions, referencing previous tournaments such as Germany 2011, where all matches were played on natural grass. She also pointed to the 2013 European Championship in Sweden, where French players benefited from turf being replaced in advance of the tournament.
“If Sweden could replace artificial turf with grass for Euro 2013, why can’t Canada do the same?” she said.
The midfielder acknowledged that Canada’s under-20 women’s tournament was held on similar surfaces but dismissed comparisons, noting the difference in age, physical development, and the demands of the senior-level World Cup.
“At the U20 level, it’s not the same,” Abily said. “We have professional careers lasting up to 15 years. Our bodies endure a lot — and playing every three or four days on artificial turf is extremely tough on the joints.”
Beyond the increased strain on athletes’ bodies, Abily highlighted the risk of turf-related injuries, including painful abrasions.
“A single match on synthetic grass may not be a problem,” she added, “but over the course of a tournament, it becomes traumatic. We leave with burns on our hips, shins — scars that last a lifetime.”
The use of synthetic surfaces has been a point of contention in the sport, with critics arguing that they increase injury risk and affect the quality of play. Despite these concerns, FIFA has stood by its decision, citing logistical challenges and climate considerations in Canada.
As preparations for the tournament continue, it remains to be seen whether mounting pressure from players like Abily will prompt any reconsideration. But one thing is clear: many of the athletes heading to Canada in 2015 expect more from the world’s governing body — and from the sport’s premier competition.
