A thick blanket of smoke from wildfires in Canada has blanketed the area around MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, in eastern United States, where Argentina and Spain will meet in the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday.

Authorities in New York and New Jersey have issued air quality alerts, heightening concerns about the health of players, fans and residents, as well as whether the match could be affected.

The stadium, located in New Jersey, 13 kilometers from Midtown Manhattan, was shrouded in orange skies on Thursday morning, a phenomenon commonly associated with heavy wildfire smoke. 

Similar conditions were seen across New York in 2023, when smoke from Canadian wildfires severely affected air quality.

Warnings and recommendations

New York authorities began issuing warnings and public health recommendations on Thursday morning after the Air Quality Index reached levels considered unhealthy. 

Although conditions improved slightly later in the day, officials continued to urge residents to take precautions.

According to the city’s Office of Emergency Management, air quality reached “very unhealthy” levels in New York City on Thursday. Officials advised residents to avoid spending more than an hour outdoors whenever possible.

Air quality improved to the “unhealthy” category on Friday, indicating the smoke was beginning to dissipate, although spending extended periods outdoors is still not recommended.

On Wednesday night, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that “the combination of dangerous heat and unhealthy air” expected on Thursday posed “a serious threat to New Yorkers’ health.”

“If you can, stay somewhere cool with air conditioning, limit your time outdoors, drink plenty of water, and check on your neighbors — especially older New Yorkers and anyone with a health condition,” he said.

Health authorities also advised people to pay particular attention to children and to avoid strenuous or prolonged outdoor activities, including exercise. 

Residents were encouraged to reschedule or move non-essential activities indoors.

New York City has begun distributing free KN95 masks in response to the smoke and has opened cooling centers as the heatwave continues.

Weather conditions for the World Cup final

The 2026 World Cup has already been disrupted by adverse weather, including thunderstorms that delayed several matches during an exceptionally hot summer in the United States.

Spain arrived in New Jersey on Wednesday night after defeating France in Tuesday’s semifinal and reportedly began training without being significantly affected by the smoke. 

Argentina remained in Georgia after beating England on Wednesday and is expected to arrive in New Jersey on Friday to begin training.

For now, no changes have been made to the schedule for Sunday’s final, and weather conditions are expected to improve on Friday.

Thunderstorms and heavy rain forecast for Saturday could help disperse some of the smoke, which might otherwise create respiratory risks and reduce visibility during the final, as MetLife Stadium is an open-air venue. 

Sunday is expected to be mostly sunny and dry, with clear skies and temperatures of around 28°C (82°F) during the afternoon.