Messi’s Argentina faces Spain in the World Cup final
Sports analyst Dan Dakich previews the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain and highlights the leadership of Lionel Messi. Dakich predicts Argentina will win and praises Messi’s continued greatness. The discussion then turns to WNBA star Caitlin Clark, who NBA commissioner Adam Silver called a “political football” amid controversies over the physical game. Dakich attributes some problems to jealousy and envy of WNBA players.
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The World Cup final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday between Spain and Argentina has the potential to be played in unsanitary conditions.
The Canadian wildfires have caused air quality in the Northeast and Midwest to range from “unhealthy” to “hazardous.”
This wouldn’t be the first time wildfire smoke was present at a major soccer match: the 2015 Women’s World Cup final in Canada was surrounded by smoke from nearby wildfires. But with professional matches displaced, the World Cup could be next on the list.
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Lionel Messi celebrates before fans after crossing the ball for Argentina’s second goal by Lautaro Martinez during the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final match between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 15, 2026. (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
However, FOX host John Strong isn’t too worried just yet.
“I’m hopeful and confident that the larger forces at play will make sure that this is a good condition to be able to play a wonderful game and a wonderful occasion and hopefully, not quite as hot as you look at the forecast for Sunday,” John Strong said.
However, commentator Stu Holden said potential conditions could play a big role on the pitch and could in fact be detrimental to Argentina.
“It makes me think that Spain’s possession will be as important as ever for them to make another team run, given the way they wear teams down,” Holden said. “So, I think it’s important from the Argentine perspective that they have to find ways to have possession of the ball against this Spanish team, which is very difficult.
“As we always say, the ball moves faster than you can run, and Spain does that when they score a goal. If they get the first goal, it’s almost impossible to come back against them, because they don’t stop playing. So I hope the smoke doesn’t influence it because it would be a shame, and certainly the conditions we don’t want to detract from the spectacle on the field.”
In fact, Spain practiced in nearby East Hanover on Thursday, while Argentina remained in Atlanta, which was not as affected.
Authorities urged people to stay indoors or wear masks outdoors as air quality reached unhealthy and dangerous levels, meaning it is unhealthy for anyone, regardless of their health conditions. Experts expressed concern about practicing outdoors.
Smoke from wildfires, which are burning more of North America as the Earth warms, attacks nearly every system in the body and kills tens of thousands of people a year, numerous medical studies show.
It attacks the body immediately, increasing asthma cases with an increase in the number of ambulances within hours. Smoke can trigger inflammation in different parts of the body, often attacking a person’s weakest points, which can then trigger different effects from an immune system trying to fight off an unpleasant irritant, doctors and scientists said.
Smoke from wildfires in Canada covers the Manhattan skyline in Brooklyn, New York, on Thursday, July 16, 2026. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
METS AND PHILLIES STARS SHOW CONCERNS ABOUT PLAYING IN UNHEALTHY AIR QUALITY: ‘NOT THE BEST IDEA’
A Major League Soccer match in Chicago was postponed Thursday due to air quality. The match was scheduled to be Polish star Robert Lewandowski’s MLS debut.
The Philadelphia Phillies also announced approximately three hours before the scheduled first pitch that their game against the New York Mets, originally scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET, was moved up one hour. Despite the change, Bryce Harper said it was “not the best idea” to play, while other players complained about the thick air, metal taste, and burning eyes.
The National Women’s Soccer League played a game at Citi Field on Wednesday under similar conditions that became the most attended women’s sports event in New York history, with 42,175 people attending Gotham FC’s game against the Washington Spirit at Citi Field. But Washington’s Trinity Rodman wasn’t happy with the game, which included two hydration breaks per half.
“If we have to have a hydration break every 15 minutes, then we shouldn’t be playing, and that’s my opinion,” Rodman said. “But at the end of the day, there are 40,000 people. It’s a full event, so it’s really difficult. It’s a really difficult situation for everyone.”
Three MLB games in 2023 have been postponed due to air quality concerns in New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC.
A general view of Citizens Bank Park during the game between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies on July 16, 2026, in Philadelphia. The Mets defeated the Phillies 4-1. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
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Air quality in the tri-state area has been deemed “unhealthy,” potentially ruining Sunday’s World Cup final at nearby MetLife Stadium. But it is expected to improve in time with cold fronts and storms arriving in the area on Saturday.
