Air quality alerts not yet threat to World Cup final

Field Level Media|published: Fri 17th July, 14:37 2026

MetLife Stadium is shown, Thursday, July 16, 2026 during an air quality alert. Whether the air quality will play a part in the World Cup Final on Sunday remains to be seen.

Hazy skies and negative air quality drifting from wildfires burning in Canada and the Boundary Waters region into Minnesota do not currently represent a threat to the World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday afternoon, FIFA confirmed on Friday.

The upper Midwest and parts of the Northeast are being impacted by segments of thick smoke, and air quality was enough of a concern on Thursday night that MLS postponed the Chicago Fire-Vancouver Whitecaps match scheduled to be played at Soldier Field in Chicago.

The World Cup final is set for Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The air quality was deemed "unhealthy for everyone" on Thursday by the New York Office of Emergency Management.

While conditions were better Friday in the region, an air quality alert was issued by the National Weather Service along with warnings about "potentially worsening" warnings Saturday. The forecast Saturday was for a chance of thunderstorms, high of 80 degrees and winds at 10 to 15 mph.

Very light (5 mph to 8 mph) winds are forecast Sunday with a high of 81.

--Field Level Media

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