Ulsan Munsu World Cup Stadium is facing turf-quality concerns less than a month before South Korea's October 2 friendly against Venezuela. Reporting from the stadium described uneven grass density, exposed soil, damaged patches and yellowed areas after summer heat put the playing surface under stress.
The timing makes the problem more than routine maintenance. A national-team match brings higher expectations for surface consistency, and poor grass can affect ball movement as well as player footing and safety. The remaining preparation window is relatively short.
The next competitive test
Summer turf damage can recover, but grounds crews need to restore density and stability across the full pitch. Stadium managers therefore face a clear deadline: the surface needs to be match-ready by October 2, and its condition in the coming weeks will show whether repair work is keeping pace.