New York issues air quality alert days before World Cup final

New York New Jersey Stadium has so far staged seven matches at the 2026 World Cup

>Officials in New York and New Jersey have issued an air quality health alert because of wildfire smoke just days before the World Cup final.

>Haze caused by Canadian wildfires has blanketed the New York region, prompting officials to urge residents to reduce outdoor exertion and stay indoors if possible.

>New York New Jersey Stadium - which is in East Rutherford, New Jersey - will host the final between Spain and Argentina on Sunday, 19 July (20:00 BST).

>Conditions deteriorated just before Spain landed in New Jersey on Wednesday night, a day after their semi-final victory over France in Texas.

>Spain spent Thursday training outdoors, looking unaffected by the air quality. They have not commented on whether they are concerned.

>Argentina, meanwhile, stayed in Georgia after their semi-final win over England, but will begin training in New Jersey on Friday afternoon.

>Contractor Dan Edgar said his daughter Kaitlynn was practising at New York New Jersey Stadium on Thursday, where she will be dancing and performing for the final.

>"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 sky and extremely hot temperatures have already been experienced by some footballers. The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) went ahead with a match between Gotham FC and Washington Spirit on Wednesday night in front of a record crowd at Citi Field in Queens despite the orange haze.

>The air quality index meant players were mandated to take two breaks per half according to NWSL policy.

>Washington Spirit's Trinity Rodman said after the match that the air quality was rough, and in her opinion, they shouldn't have played.

>Rodman said: "Not to make excuses at all, but I think on both sides we were all like, 'another break, another break, another break'."

>New Yorkers are relieved conditions are not as intense as they were in June 2023, when the skies turned completely orange because of Canadian wildfires.

>New York New Jersey Stadium is an open-air facility, but at the moment there is no suggestion the World Cup final, with more than 80,000 spectators and a star-studded half-time show, will be affected.

>The air quality in the area is expected to improve on Friday while forecast rain on Saturday should further help disperse some of the smoke.

>On Thursday, the Major League Soccer match between Chicago Fire and Vancouver Whitecaps was postponed because of poor air quality conditions in the Chicago area.

>Former Bayern Munich and Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski was set to make his debut for Chicago having joined as a free agent last month.

>Smoke from wildfires in Canada arrived in New York City on 15 July

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