With the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina just days away, organisers are grappling with an unexpected threat: thick smoke from Canadian wildfires that has drifted across the northeastern United States, turning skies orange and pushing air quality to hazardous levels in New Jersey, where the match is scheduled to be played on Sunday.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House World Cup task force, told reporters on Friday that officials are “monitoring closely” the situation, with a National Weather Service liaison stationed at FIFA headquarters. “There’s been discussion about it,” he said, without specifying whether contingency plans, such as moving the match indoors or postponing it, are under consideration.
The smoke, originating from massive wildfires in northern Ontario, has prompted air-quality warnings across the US Midwest and Northeast. In many cities, authorities have urged residents to stay indoors or wear N95 masks outdoors. The air quality index in parts of New Jersey has reached levels deemed hazardous for everyone, not just sensitive groups.
Health Risks for Elite Athletes
Dr. Courtney Howard, an emergency physician and board member of the Global Climate and Health Alliance, warned that high-level athletes are particularly vulnerable. “These are high-level athletes who are moving a lot of air through their lungs during every practice in every game, and really they shouldn’t be practising outside if the air quality levels are at hazardous sorts of ranges for wildfire-related air pollution,” she said.
Howard recommended that teams schedule practices in air-conditioned indoor facilities with clean air. “You could put an N95 mask on them, but trying to make sure that everybody’s mask is well-fitted, I suspect that’s not the best choice. I would go find an air-conditioned indoor facility that’s a clean-air shelter.”
On Thursday, Spain’s national team trained outdoors in northern New Jersey despite the hazardous conditions. Argentina, meanwhile, remained in the Atlanta area to train, less than 24 hours after coming from behind to beat England and reach a second consecutive World Cup final. Marietta, Georgia, lies far enough south to have avoided the worst of the smoke.
The health risks are not limited to players. Fans travelling to the stadium and those watching from outdoor public viewing areas may also be exposed. One analysis has compared the smoke exposure to smoking ten cigarettes, underscoring the severity of the situation.
European teams and their medical staffs are accustomed to managing air-quality issues during matches in other parts of the world, but the current crisis is unfolding on home soil for many European players and fans. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is expected to attend the final, flying to New York before heading to Algeria, and his delegation will need to take precautions.
The European Union’s sport commissioner has backed Spain as the tournament’s strongest team, but even the best-prepared squad cannot control the air they breathe. As the match approaches, organisers face a difficult choice: proceed as planned and risk player and spectator health, or adapt on short notice.
The situation also highlights the growing intersection of climate change and major sporting events. Wildfires in Canada, exacerbated by drought and heatwaves, have become more frequent and intense in recent years. Spain itself has faced its largest wildfire of the year, burning 12,000 hectares near Zaragoza, a reminder that no region is immune.
For now, the World Cup final remains on schedule. But the smoke drifting over New Jersey serves as an unwelcome reminder that even the most carefully planned events can be disrupted by forces beyond human control.
