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A few days before the World Cup finals, officials in New York and New Jersey have issued air quality health warnings due to smoke from wildfires.
Haze caused by wildfires in Canada has blanketed the New York region, with officials urging residents to minimize outdoor activity and stay indoors if possible.
The New York New Jersey Stadium – in East Rutherford, New Jersey – will host the final between Spain and Argentina on Sunday 19 July (20:00 BST).
A day after Spain beat France in the semi-finals in Texas, conditions fell apart before landing in New Jersey on Wednesday night.
Spain spent Thursday training outdoors, seemingly unaffected by the air quality. They did not comment on whether they were concerned.
Argentina, meanwhile, will stay in Georgia after defeating England in the semi-finals, but will begin training in New Jersey on Friday afternoon.
Contractor Dan Edgar said his daughter, Caitlin, was rehearsing at New York’s New Jersey Stadium on Thursday, where she would perform the dance and the finale.
“She’s texting me that it’s bad over there,” he said. “Dancing is hard, you feel the air, it’s hard,” she says.
The smoky skies and extremely hot temperatures were experienced by some football players. The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) match between Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit played out in front of a record crowd at Citi Field in Queens on Wednesday night, despite an orange haze.
The air quality index allowed players to take two breaks at halftime per NWSL policy.
Trinity Rodman of the Washington Spirit said after the match that the air quality was difficult and in her opinion they should not have played.
“Not to make excuses at all, but I think on both sides we’re all like, ‘Another break, another break, another break,'” Rodman said.
New Yorkers are relieved the skies aren’t as intense as they were in June 2023, when Canadian wildfires turned completely orange.
Although New York’s New Jersey stadium is an on-air venue, there are currently over 80,000 spectators and no comment on the star-studded halftime show.
Air quality in the area is expected to improve on Friday, and the forecast for Saturday will help disperse some of the smoke.
