The NFL is not afraid of the Santiago Bernabeu stadium pitch

The NFL will have a historic date at the Bernabeu between the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders. Beyond the spectacle, which they say will be tremendous between the American football itself and what surrounds the event in the Real Madrid Stadium, it is a game where two competitive teams with ambitions to improve clash.

Both teams have already been in Madrid for several days, training and adapting. Without fear of a major player: the grass.

The pitch has been an issue on the agenda at the Bernabeu since Real Madrid returned to the Paseo de la Castellana after that brief exile at their Ciudad Deportiva when the works accelerated. But Los Blancos have always been clear that their technology and commitment to the hypogeum system would pave the way for all kinds of events. And the NFL will be a big step forward that will also convince the two teams playing in the Madrid Game.

The Dolphins and Commanders have no doubts about the Bernabeu's turf, according to MARCA. Nor about their adaptation, as the two franchises play at home on natural grass (although nowadays the fields also support their fields in artificial parts). Nor in continuing with the grass that Real Madrid used in recent times. It will be changed soon, something that was already planned.

For the American football match, the Bernabeu's turf is an advantage. The player will always prefer the conditions provided by natural grass and it suits, in this case, Miami and Washington. In addition, the fear of injury is reduced. In 2023, NFL players, through their association, demanded that the use of natural grass be expanded after an epidemic of serious setbacks, and the turf in Madrid meets their requirements.

Switching to natural grass requires a greater investment, but the greater cost will be to continue to lose our best players to unnecessary injuries

NFLPA

Specifically, the NFLPA demanded that players be considered. "Switching to natural grass requires a greater investment, but the greater cost will be continuing to lose our best players to unnecessary injuries," it explained in its statement. And the stars are clear about it. "We always prefer to play on natural," said, for example, Matthew Stafford, MVP of the 2021 Super Bowl and star of the Los Angeles Rams.

We always prefer to play on natural grass

Matthew Stafford

That claim remains valid, as the changes have still not been fully implemented. At the start of the 2025 league campaign, there is a 50-50 split between natural grass and artificial turf pitches. The Bernabeu joins those that players prefer and does not generate any fear for them ahead of the clash between Dolphins and Commanders.