Will Canada Wildfires Disrupt the 2026 World Cup Final?

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Supporters of the Spanish national team during the match against Uruguay in the 2026 World Cup Group H match at the Akron Stadium, Guadalajara, Mexico, June 27, 2026. ANTARA/Aditya Pradana Putra

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The 2026 World Cup is drawing to a close, with the upcoming blockbuster final showdown between Spain and Argentina ramping up the euphoric atmosphere in the hosting country, United States. But something else is lurking: for the past couple of weeks, neighboring Canada has been burning, and the winds have sent the smoke to shroud most of the US midwest and northeast, including New York.

The World Cup final is scheduled for July 19, 2026, at the New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) in East Rutherford, just outside of New York City. Authorities have said they are "monitoring" the wildfire smoke situation, with many fearing the fate of the final World Cup match on Sunday.

How bad is the air quality in New York?

The dense smoke from Canadian and northern Minnesota wildfires has set off unhealthy air quality alerts across the US, but the situation has improved a little bit in New York.

After a smog that made the Manhattan skyline barely visible, the air quality index (AQI) reading late Friday in the metro area is at level 161, or "unhealthy for sensitive groups."

But the National Weather Service (NWS) warned the smoke could thicken overnight into Saturday morning, citing CNA.

Any update from FIFA?

FIFA authorities said they were "monitoring closely" whether the Canadian wildfires and resulting smoke would impact the Sunday game, according to DW and ABC News.

"There's been discussion about it, and we have somebody with the National Weather Service that sits in FIFA headquarters there, so we're monitoring closely," Andrew Giuliani, White House World Cup task force executive director, told a briefing.

Al Jazeera and CBS Sports reported that FIFA President Gianni Infantino will meet Trump and White House officials on Friday to discuss potential risks to players' and fans' health due to poor air quality at the stadium. But it is unlikely that the final will be postponed—kick-off is scheduled at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday—despite concerns.

Spanish players have been training at a facility near East Rutherford in preparation for the World Cup final, while Argentina's players remained in the Atlanta area.

How's the weather looking for the World Cup Final?

Rain is expected in the US northeast on Sunday afternoon and evening, according to CNN, which will help wash out the smoke from the skies and shift the winds temporarily.

In New York City, the chance for heavy downpours brings a risk of brief flash floods, but it should clear by Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, the storm system on Saturday is moving over the fire zones near the Minnesota-Canada border, which should ease the fire and smoke to help clear the air in the upcoming days.

The concern for the World Cup final, though, is whether more smoke will spill south after the storm passes, according to Joel Dreessen, air quality forecaster for Maryland, as quoted from Al Jazeera.

Read: Canada Wildfires: Smoke Choking Major US Cities

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