Wildfire smoke threatens World Cup final in New Jersey
Smoke from hundreds of wildfires in Canada has blanketed New York and New Jersey, USA, ahead of the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain on July 19, 2026.
The game is scheduled to be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. In the days leading up to the game, the area's air quality was rated as poor for vulnerable groups due to smoke from wildfires.
Weather problems also disrupted both teams' preparations. Argentina's training session was delayed by around 45 minutes due to a storm, while Spain had to cancel their final training session.
At the same time, authorities issued flash flood warnings and urged people not to travel unless they had to leave the danger zone.
However, the latest forecast suggests that the weather in East Rutherford could improve on game day, with less smoke, more sunshine and a slight chance of rain. Authorities are continuing to monitor air quality and the impact on infrastructure.
