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Anyone who lives in the northeastern part of the United States has undoubtedly witnessed the borderline apocalyptic scene unfolding in the sky.
Smoke from the wildfires currently ravaging Canada has made its way south of the border into many American cities, affecting air quality and causing health problems for citizens in the process.
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)
The question on everyone’s mind is whether the FIFA World Cup final will be played in the shadow of smoke from the Canadian wildfires.
IF AIR QUALITY IS BAD, ARGENTINA COULD BE HURT BY SPAIN’S STYLE IN THE WORLD CUP FINAL, SAYS FOX ANALYST
Since the championship game will take place in East Rutherford, New Jersey, it would mean that players and fans would be in the direct path of the smoke.
FOX Weather host Bob Van Dillen explained what effect the smoke could have on the game and how we got here.
“On Monday afternoon we extinguished all these fires in Canada and the smoke instantly rose into the atmosphere,” Van Dillen explained. “The winds were blowing out of the northwest and blew it across the Great Lakes, and now it’s settling across the Mid-Atlantic, into New York City…and it’s been a nuisance, if not dangerous, for the last few days.”
New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, two days before the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina on July 17, 2026. (Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images)
Speaking about the dangers posed by smoke, Van Dillen broke it down in terms of the Air Quality Index or AQI.
As he explains, 0-100 represents normal, healthy conditions, while anything above 101 is potentially dangerous and becomes more dangerous as the number increases.
“Once you get to about 150 with that AQI, everyone starts to feel it and you have to start taking it a little slower when you go out,” Van Dillen said. “Yesterday, for example, East Rutherford on Thursday peaked at 245… That’s when you’re not supposed to be out.”
AIR QUALITY CONCERNS ARISING FROM FIRES IN CANADA FORCE THE RESCHEDULING OF TWO PROFESSIONAL SPORTS GAMES
That’s a staggering number, though it’s not even close to the ceiling considering places like Detroit experienced their worst AQI numbers since weather services began tracking air quality in 2000.
The Motor City peaked with an AQI of over 600 on Thursday.
Van Dillen put things into context when he explained what conditions would be like for players on the field exposed to smoke.
“If they had played it yesterday, it would be the equivalent of playing that round-trip game, 90 minutes, smoking two cigarettes.”
While Van Dillen’s assessment is spot on, he may have even been underestimating things regarding the length of the game.
In the last 20 years, four of the last five World Cup finals have gone to extra time or penalties, meaning this Sunday’s final has a good chance of lasting 30 minutes longer than usual.
Spain trained at the Gotham Training Facility in East Hanover, New Jersey, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina on July 16, 2026. Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro did light individual stretches during the open portion of the training in place of team passing drills. Hazy skies caused by the Canadian wildfires reduced air quality and visibility throughout the New York metropolitan area. Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images (Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Regarding the game that will be played on Sunday in northern New Jersey, Van Dillen was optimistic.
“If the game were to be played on Thursday… I would say they probably wouldn’t play it,” Van Dillen said. “But on Saturday we will have a cold front that will eventually pass and, in the afternoon hours of Saturday, will push the largest plume of smoke towards the coast.”
Van Dillen explained that Sunday may seem a little confusing, but nothing compared to what New Yorkers and New Jerseyans have been experiencing this week.
“I think we have a nice little window for Sunday afternoon,” Van Dillen said. “I think everything will be fine, the AQI is forecast to be 75, so it’s still in a good range.”
Pak Gazette and Outkick reached out to FIFA to ask if they had contingency plans in case conditions dictated a postponement, but did not receive a response.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the White House have been in talks about Sunday’s World Cup final in New Jersey as the tri-state area continues to deal with poor air quality caused by the wildfires raging in Canada, sources confirmed to Pak Gazette Digital on Friday.
The discussions were characterized as informal as they continue to monitor the forest fire situation. Sources added that there were no contingency plans to make changes to the game due to the weather.
The Spanish national team trains at the Gotham Training Facility in East Hanover, New Jersey, on July 16, 2026, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina. Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro participated in light individual stretches during the open portion of the workout instead of the team passing drills. Spain trained under hazy skies as smoke from the ongoing Canadian wildfires reduced air quality and visibility in the New York metropolitan area ahead of Sunday’s final at New York New Jersey Stadium. Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images (Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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It’s also worth noting that the Spanish team has been practicing in northern New Jersey this week ahead of the game, while the Argentine team remained in Atlanta.
Whether this is advantageous for either team remains to be seen, but hopefully neither the players nor the fans will have to find out.
