The FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey is facing weather-related concerns as smoke from wildfires in Canada spreads across parts of the northeastern United States, reports agencies.
More than 80,000 fans are expected at the stadium for Monday's (1:00 am as per BST) showdown, with officials monitoring air quality levels and weather conditions ahead of one of football's biggest events.
Authorities have been closely monitoring air quality as smoke spread across parts of New York, New Jersey and the wider northeastern United States.
Meteorologists, however, say the outlook is expected to improve over the weekend. Heavy rain forecast for Saturday is likely to help wash smoke particles from the atmosphere, while a cold front moving through the region on Sunday is expected to push the remaining haze away before the match begins.
AccuWeather meteorologist Alex DaSilva said the combination of rainfall and the approaching cold front should significantly improve air quality by Sunday afternoon, reducing the risk for players and spectators.
Even so, medical experts have cautioned that smoky conditions combined with high temperatures can increase stress on the heart and lungs, particularly during prolonged physical exertion. Pulmonologist Dr Vin Gupta said footballers would need careful hydration and cooling measures if air quality remained poor, adding that vulnerable supporters should consider wearing masks or limiting their exposure to outdoor conditions.
Current forecasts indicate temperatures will be around 29 degrees Celsius at kick-off, cooler than Friday's expected highs of about 32 degrees. While showers and thunderstorms are forecast for Saturday, conditions are expected to become clearer by Monday. Barring any unexpected change in the weather, organisers do not expect the wildfire smoke to cause major disruption
to the World Cup final, but officials will continue monitoring air quality and weather conditions in the lead-up to the match.
"The areas where the smoke is the densest can actually cause respiratory problems. So those who may be a little bit more sensitive or may have respiratory issues may want to stay inside for as long as possible," AccuWeather meteorologist Alex DaSilva told Reuters in an interview.
"It's going to rain a lot on Saturday, so that should dissipate a lot of the smoke.
Monday morning, I think we're going to be seeing a cold front come through the area and it should kick out any remaining smoke that we're seeing."
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on Thursday the smoke was creating unhealthy air conditions across the state and urged people to stay indoors. Wildfire smoke from northern Canada has been a
common summer occurrence across wide swaths of the United States in recent years.
But footballers, playing in Monday's conditions, could still face health risks and would require considerable hydration and cooling, an expert said.
"It not only is going to be terrible, terrible air quality. It's hot, and that can cause an extreme amount of stress on the heart," said Dr Vin Gupta, a pulmonologist and board of directors member at the American Lung Association.
Wildfire smoke casts shadow over World Cup final
FE Team | Published: July 17, 2026 22:24:59
Wildfire smoke casts shadow over World Cup final
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