The 2024 Copa América opener between Argentina and Canada was played on a pitch that felt “like a trampoline,” or “like walking on a stage” that was “hollow,” players said.

“The field conditions were very ugly,” Argentina defender Cristian Romero said after his team’s 2-0 victory Thursday.

The temporary grass surface at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta “was a disaster,” Argentine goalkeeper Emi Martinez repeated multiple times.