Officials in New York and New Jersey have issued an air quality health alert due to wildfire smoke, days before the World Cup final is scheduled to take place in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The haze, originating from Canadian wildfires, has created smoky conditions across the region. Residents have been advised to limit outdoor activities and remain indoors when possible.
The New York New Jersey Stadium is set to host the final match between Spain and Argentina on Sunday, July 19. Conditions began to deteriorate just before the Spanish team arrived on Wednesday night, following their semi-final victory in Texas. Spain trained outdoors on Thursday and has not indicated concern about the air quality, while Argentina remained in Georgia after their semi-final win and is expected to begin training in New Jersey on Friday afternoon.
Contractors working at the stadium noted the heavy air. One contractor, Dan Edgar, reported that his daughter, Kaitlynn, described the air as difficult to breathe while practicing for a performance at the stadium. "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-filled skies and high temperatures have already impacted recent sporting events. The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) match between Gotham FC and Washington Spirit at Citi Field in Queens proceeded on Wednesday night, despite the orange haze. NWSL policy mandated two breaks per half for players due to the air quality index. Washington Spirit player Trinity Rodman commented that the air quality was difficult, suggesting the match should not have been played. "Not to make excuses at all, but I think on both sides we were all like, 'another break, another break, another break'," Rodman stated.
Residents of New York have noted that current conditions are less severe than those experienced in June 2023, when the sky turned distinctly orange due to Canadian wildfires. The New York New Jersey Stadium is an open-air venue. However, there are currently no indications that the World Cup final, which is expected to draw over 80,000 spectators and feature a halftime show, will be affected. The air quality is forecast to improve by Friday, with expected rain on Saturday anticipated to further help dissipate the smoke.