Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina is facing an unusual environmental concern after wildfire smoke spread across the north-eastern United States.
The smoke, carried south from major fires in Canada, has produced a thick haze across New York City and northern New Jersey, where the final will be played at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford.
Air-quality alerts have been issued across the region, prompting health officials to advise residents to limit strenuous outdoor activity.
The final is due to begin at 15:00 local time on Sunday, corresponding to 21:00 Central European Summer Time.
Read also: England’s ‘Cablegate’ equaliser shortlisted for World Cup goal award
Mayor warns against outdoor activity
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued a public warning on Wednesday after pollution reached levels considered unhealthy for the general population.
“Air quality has reached unhealthy levels in parts of NYC due to smoke from Canadian wildfires moving through the city. Poor air quality affects everyone, but some people are more sensitive to it than others, including people with heart or lung conditions, older adults, pregnant New Yorkers, and infants and children,” Mamdani wrote, as quoted by The Spun.
“Avoid unnecessary outdoor activities, head to a cool space indoors with AC if possible, and follow @NYChealthy guidance. Free masks are available at locations citywide.”
The city subsequently extended the opening hours of hundreds of cooling centres and made free KN95 masks available at libraries, police stations, firehouses and major transport hubs.
Read also: ‘Look in the mirror’: Zlatan tears into England after World Cup failure
“The combination of dangerous heat and unhealthy air is a serious threat to New Yorkers’ health,” Mamdani said in an official statement from the Mayor’s Office.
Spain train beneath the haze
The conditions have already affected preparations for the final.
Spain held an outdoor training session in East Hanover, New Jersey, on Thursday while the sun was partially obscured by smoke. Reporters were permitted to watch only the opening 15 minutes, making it unclear how demanding the hour-long session was.
Air quality in parts of the state ranged from unhealthy to hazardous during the day. Medical experts advised against intense outdoor exercise because fine particles from wildfire smoke can enter the lungs and bloodstream.
Read also: World Cup final ticket madness: Fans asked to pay up to $11.5m
Argentina, meanwhile, remained in the Atlanta area for training, where conditions had not been affected to the same extent.
Air quality is expected to improve to the moderate category by Sunday, according to an Associated Press report. Rain and a change in wind direction could help disperse the smoke before the final.
No suggestion that final will be moved
There has been no announcement from FIFA indicating that the match could be postponed or relocated. Organisers and local authorities are continuing to monitor both air quality and the weather forecast.
The stadium has no roof, leaving players and more than 80,000 spectators exposed to the conditions. The physical demands on the players are a particular concern because strenuous exercise increases the amount of polluted air drawn into the lungs.
Read also: Amorim plots double transfer on Manchester United
Sunday’s forecast also includes temperatures of around 29C and a possibility of showers or thunderstorms. Lightning would present a more immediate risk of disruption, as nearby strikes can force play to be suspended.
For now, the smoke is a concern rather than a confirmed threat to the fixture. Current forecasts offer hope that the worst conditions will have passed before Spain and Argentina take the field, but air quality will remain under close scrutiny until kick-off.
Read also: New boss, same old England: Tuchel’s revolution ends in familiar collapse
