Health officials have issued a warning to New York residents ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina as wildfire smoke degrades air quality across the New York and New Jersey region.
Authorities are advising residents to remain indoors and limit time outside where possible due to unsafe atmospheric conditions.
Training sessions for the final have proceeded without apparent disruption, though concerns remain over the impact of prolonged outdoor exposure on players and spectators.
The combination of poor air quality and high temperatures has already affected earlier fixtures in the area.
A National Women’s Soccer League match between Gotham FC and Washington Spirit required mandated hydration breaks twice per half under league regulations.
Following the match, Spirit forward Trinity Rodman questioned whether the game should have been played, noting players were visibly affected by the environment.
“Not to make excuses at all, but I think on both sides we were all like, ‘another break, another break, another break’,” Rodman said.
There is currently no indication that the World Cup final will be postponed or cancelled.
Argentina and Spain are scheduled to meet in New York on Sunday, with forecasts suggesting air quality may improve later in the week.
The only confirmed adjustment to the match protocol is an extended halftime interval of 25 minutes, replacing the standard 15-minute break.
