Officials in New York and New Jersey have issued an air quality health alert because of wildfire smoke from Canada, just days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
The alert comes as haze from ongoing Canadian wildfires spread across the New York metropolitan area, prompting authorities to advise residents to reduce outdoor activities, particularly those with heart or respiratory conditions, children and older adults.
The FIFA World Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with kick-off set for 20:00 BST.
Smoke reaches World Cup host region
Air quality worsened on Wednesday evening shortly before Spain’s squad arrived in New Jersey following their semi-final victory over France in Texas.
Despite the conditions, Spain held an outdoor training session on Thursday and has not publicly expressed concerns about the smoke.
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Argentina remained in Georgia after defeating England in the other semi-final but is scheduled to begin training in New Jersey on Friday.
Authorities said air quality is expected to improve on Friday, while forecast rainfall on Saturday could help clear much of the lingering smoke.
Performers and players feel impact
The deteriorating air quality has also affected activities around the World Cup venue.
Contractor Dan Edgar said his daughter, Kaitlynn, who is rehearsing for the World Cup final’s entertainment programme at the stadium, had struggled with the conditions.
“She’s texting me that it’s bad out there,” he said. “It’s hard to dance, she says you can feel the air, it’s heavy.”
The smoke has already disrupted football activities elsewhere in the United States.
On Thursday, Major League Soccer postponed the match between Chicago Fire and Vancouver Whitecaps because of poor air quality in the Chicago area. Former Bayern Munich and Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski had been expected to make his debut for Chicago after joining the club as a free agent.
Previous matches affected
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) also experienced the effects of the smoke earlier this week.
A match between Gotham FC and Washington Spirit at Citi Field in New York went ahead on Wednesday despite hazy conditions. Under league policy, the Air Quality Index required two additional hydration and recovery breaks in each half.
Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman questioned the decision to play under the conditions.
“Not to make excuses at all, but I think on both sides we were all like, ‘another break, another break, another break’,” she said.
No disruption expected to final
The New York New Jersey Stadium is an open-air venue that will host more than 80,000 spectators for Sunday’s final, alongside a planned half-time entertainment show.
At present, there is no indication that the match will be postponed or relocated because of the wildfire smoke.
Canadian wildfires have repeatedly affected air quality across parts of North America in recent years. In June 2023, thick smoke from the fires turned skies over New York City orange, prompting widespread health warnings and disrupting outdoor activities.
Health officials continue to advise residents and visitors to monitor local air quality updates and limit prolonged outdoor exposure while smoke conditions persist.
