The NFL’s 2026 international series has gotten off to a solid start, with games in Australia and Brazil followed by two matchups in London. Now, the fifth international game of the season, and third in London, features the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans at Wembley Stadium in Week 6. However, ahead of kickoff, pregame rain swept through, muddying the field and complicating conditions for players and even the refs.

After a ref went down injured and had to be carted off, the field conditions were called into question, and the NFL world was quick to rip the NFL and Wembley for the conditions.

Fans Critical of Field Conditions During the Jaguars-Texans London Game

While debates over NFL playing surfaces often focus on synthetic turf, natural and hybrid grass fields can also draw criticism when conditions deteriorate. However, Wembley’s hybrid grass pitch struggled after pregame rain left the surface slick, making it a hot topic of discussion.

Radio host Rick Ballou described what the entire NFL world was watching at Wembley to start the Jaguars-Texans AFC South showdown in London, saying, “Playing surface sucks in London, guys are on skates.”

Former NFL defensive back and two-time Super Bowl champion Asante Samuel was quick to criticize the NFL for the state of the field.

He posted, “How does a widely successful company like the NFL continue to put athletes on these terrible fields risking players health???”

Another user couldn’t help but agree with Samuel’s criticism, saying, “The Field is Atrocious this week in London 🧐 NFL has to stop letting this happen.”

Connie Carberg, the first female scout in the NFL, couldn’t believe the timing of the broadcast’s comments on the field’s conditions, explaining, “Talking about how slippery the field in London is pre-game, and now refs slip and get carted off!! #InternationalGames #NFL”

One fan said, “This field is God Awful. Get the [expletive] out of London.”

While some were quick to rag on the NFL for poor planning after the previous two London games were played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, this fan directed his criticism at Wembley, posting, “What a garbage playing surface at Wembley. Rain shouldn’t cause that much issue in a professional stadium. Clearly horrible drainage system.”

While this is the last London game, it will be interesting to see how the NFL proceeds given the field’s issues following the rain.

With the Jaguars maintaining a multi-year commitment to playing games in the U.K., while the NFL’s partnership with Tottenham Hotspur Stadium runs through the 2029-30 season, it remains to be seen how the league evaluates its London venues moving forward.