Quality of pitch at Club World Cup in U.S. under scrutiny as Inter Milan and River Plate set to play in Seattle

VIDEO SHOWS: INTER MILAN FC PRACTICING AHEAD OF CLUB WORLD CUP MATCH IN SEATTLE; INTER MILAN FC PRESS CONFERENCE; RIVER PLATE FC PRESS CONFERENCE

SHOWS: RENTON, WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES (JUNE 24, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF INTER MILAN FC PRACTICING AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS TRAINING FACILITY

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES (JUNE 24, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) INTER MILAN HEAD COACH CHRISTIAN CHIVU, SAYING:

"A difficult match awaits us, like the other two because there are teams that have different ambitions, that want to make a good impression and that always make it difficult for you. As for the game, the one you would like to propose and it is never easy. Then we also talk about a physical condition that in my opinion is better as regards the European teams that are at the end of the season that come from many months of matches played and therefore it is never easy but in football it is never easy. You have to accept this challenge and you have to find mental and physical energy to always be ready to face a match like that in a competition like that."

RENTON, WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES (JUNE 24, 2025)(REUTERS - Access All)

3. VARIOUS OF INTER MILAN FC PRACTICING AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS TRAINING FACILITY

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES (JUNE 24, 2025)(REUTERS - Access All)

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) INTER MILAN HEAD COACH CHRISTIAN CHIVU, SAYING:

"As for the pitch, we cannot complain. Why? Because we are used to it too. The pitch conditions were not optimal. We always adapt to what the pitch is, however. The facilities that the United States of America have made available to us I would say are optimal. Obviously it's not Europe since it's always a stadium that is more prepared for American football rather than for soccer and this if I'm not mistaken if I remember correctly since I'm also a fan of American football. It's a synthetic field where they put grass on top so the conditions are like this the field could have been better but it's not bad."

5. CHIVU LEAVING PRESS CONFERENCE (MUTE)

6. CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 LOGO

7. RIVER PLATE HEAD COACH MARCELL GALLARDO ENTERING PRESS CONFERENCE

8. PERSON FILMING GALLARDO WITH PHONE

9.(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RIVER PLATE HEAD COACH MARCELLO GALLARDO, SAYING:

"If we stop to evaluate how our participation has been so far in the two games that we have played, we have gone from minor to major in terms of operation, in terms of team posture, in quality of play and as a result, we have proven ourselves, but we have lacked force to win against Monterrey. We are in a good position to face the game."

10. GALLARDO SPEAKING WITH MEMBERS OF MEDIA

11. (SOUNDBITE)(Spanish) RIVER PLATE HEAD COACH MARCELLO GALLARDO, SAYING:

''Absolutely. I believe competitions like this really highlight how small details can sometimes be overlooked. Our aim is to turn those details into advantages. That way, we can be more effective—whether it's in creating opportunities or defending ourselves properly, especially against top-level teams. As I mentioned at the start, the goal is to compete with minimal suffering and maximum efficiency. We're focused and working hard on our own process.''

12. PERSON FILMING GALLARDO WITH PHONE

13. GALLARDO LEAVING PRESS CONFERENCE

STORY: Inter Milan and River Plate are set to take the pitch Wednesday (June 25) at Lumen Field in Seattle for another match in FIFA's Club World Cup.

Inter Milan left it late in Seattle to beat Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds 2-1 on Saturday (June 21) in Group E, scoring in the 92nd minute of the match to defeat the them.

During a press conference on Tuesday (June 24), Inter Milan head coach Christian Chivu expressed some reservations about the quality of the pitch.

"The pitch conditions were not optimal. We always adapt to what the pitch is, however," said Chivu. "The facilities that the United States of America have made available to us I would say are optimal. Obviously it's not Europe since it's always a stadium that is more prepared for American football rather than for soccer."

Meanwhile, Argentinian club River Plate's coach Marcelo Gallardo is confident he can still field a team capable of defeating Inter Milan in his side's final Group E game at the Club World Cup despite losing several players due to suspension.

"If we stop to evaluate how our participation has been so far in the two games that we have played, we have gone from minor to major in terms of operation, in terms of team posture, in quality of play and as a result, we have proven ourselves, but we have lacked force to win against Monterrey," said Gallardo, elaborating that he feels his team is in "a good position".

River Plate are one of South America's most successful clubs, winning the Copa Libertadores on four occasions as well as the Intercontinental Cup in 1986, but their recent draw with Monterrey on Saturday (June 21) means the Argentinians are level on four points with Inter Milan in Group E. The two teams are due to face off in their final group game on Wednesday (June 25).

(Production: Matt M. McKnight, Lily Salgado, Nathan Frandino)