Smoke from Canada wildfires threatens World Cup final as Spain trains outdoors despite health warnings

Smoke blankets the region

More than 800 wildfires are burning across Canada, with the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre reporting 897 active fires on Friday, 31 of them new and the majority labelled as out of control. A heat dome, an area of high pressure that has scorched North America, pushed temperatures close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit in Ontario and the U.S. Northeast this week; New York City saw highs of 92°F (33°C) on Thursday. The dome traps smoke from the distant fires close to the ground, creating hot, humid, and hazy conditions. As of Friday, New York City remained one of the most affected U.S. regions, alongside Detroit, Washington D.C., and Chicago, according to IQAir. The air quality index in New York City reached 188 on Friday, well above the 150 threshold considered unhealthy by the Environmental Protection Agency. Timelapse footage showed MetLife Stadium, the 82,500-seat venue for Sunday's final, barely visible through the thick haze, and many residents wore masks outdoors.

Spain trains outdoors

Spain's squad held its regular training session in East Hanover, New Jersey, on Friday, ignoring calls from health experts to move indoors. Head coach Luis de la Fuente's team had beaten France on Tuesday to secure a place in the final. Midfielder Mikel Merino said he could see and smell the smoke but was trying to shut out external factors.

For a game that is as important as a World Cup final, you have to be able to shut out external factors as much as possible.

He added that the federation and World Cup organizers were being careful with every detail. Neither FIFA nor the Spanish Football Association responded to requests for comment on whether indoor training was considered.

Health risks and official response

Wildfire smoke attacks nearly every system in the body, killing tens of thousands of people annually, according to multiple medical studies. It can trigger asthma attacks within hours, increasing ambulance runs, and cause inflammation that often targets a person's weakest points. Mark Parrington, senior scientist at the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, said the standard advice is to minimize outdoor activity and exercise when air is full of pollutants. A White House official confirmed that informal discussions had taken place with FIFA and World Cup task force CEO Andrew Giuliani about the air quality situation. Air quality improved on Friday, and the World Health Organization forecast calls for "moderate" conditions in East Rutherford, but the outlook remains uncertain.

Following that, it looks like there is another smoky air mass following in behind that system, but it's not clear right now how much or how it might reach New York or New Jersey, when it comes to actually Sunday.

What to expect on Sunday

Up to 1.25 inches (3.17 centimeters) of rain is forecast for Saturday, which could temporarily wash out pollutants. However, Parrington warned that if fire intensity picks up again through Saturday, more smoke could quickly follow the rain. MetLife Stadium has no roof, meaning players and the expected capacity crowd will be directly exposed to whatever air quality prevails. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, with Spain facing reigning champions Argentina in the 104th and final fixture of the summer tournament.