In the final days leading up to the World Cup final, a new conflict has erupted between New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and FIFA. The dispute centers on a plan to sell pieces of the MetLife Stadium grass as collectibles, potentially generating over $11.2 million in revenue.

"Get Off Our Turf"

The collectibles, ranging from $450 to $3,000, are being sold via FIFA's website. This has outraged New Jersey officials because state taxpayers funded $13.04 million in upgrades to ensure the turf met FIFA's standards. Assemblyman Mike Inganamort slammed the move, stating, "FIFA needs to get off our turf, literally... This is state-owned property. FIFA can’t just sell off the soccer pitch without permission."

Governor Sherrill echoed this sentiment on social media, writing: "FIFA heard ‘touch grass’ and said, ‘How much can we charge for it?’"

Financial Disputes and Political Friction

While sources close to the host committee claim that the majority of the proceeds from the grass sale will go back to the regional host committee rather than FIFA, Governor Sherrill's office maintains that the funds should go directly to New Jerseyans. This is the latest in a series of tensions between the state and the soccer body, which include:

• Transportation Costs: A dispute over rail tickets from Manhattan to MetLife, which surged to $98 for fans to avoid subsidizing the cost with taxpayer money.
• Branding: A request by Gov. Sherrill to change the official name "New York New Jersey Stadium" to "New Jersey New York" to better reflect the state's contribution.
• Ticket Access: Frustration over the New York City mayor securing affordable tickets for city residents while New Jersey residents initially had no such program.

Despite the friction, the host committee emphasizes the overall success of the event, noting that the investments have generated billions in economic impact and permanent infrastructure improvements for the region.