Sports

Will The World Cup Final Be Impacted By Wildfire Smoke? New Jersey Continues To Deal With Unhealthy Air Quality

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World Cup Final Smoke Air Quality New Jersey Wildfire Forecast MetLife Stadium
iStockphoto / REUTERS/Brian Snyder

The World Cup final is set to take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, air quality remains a concern as smoke from the out-of-control wildfires continues to blow down over the Northeast from Canada.

It should be better at kick off. We’ll see…

FIFA is not concerned about potential health issues during the final game of the international soccer tournament. The forecast does not seem to be an issue, for now.

Parts of New York and New Jersey are covered in smoke.

More than 850 active wildfires are burning out of control in Canada. Due to the current direction of the wind, most of that smoke is pushing down into the United States. Parts of Ohio, Michigan and Illinois were blanketed by a thick haze on Thursday. It pushed even further to the east toward Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey on Friday.

Massive amounts of wildfire smoke is currently visible from outer space. Multiple amusement parks were subject to criticism for their decision to remain open. Even healthy individuals are encouraged to limit time outside.

This could be an issue for the World Cup.

Gotham FC played the Queens Classic against the Washington Spirit at Citi Field on Wednesday night. The game took place under an air quality advisory.

Trinity Rodman was one of the athletes who received oxygen throughout the match.

She called out the playing conditions after the game.

“If we have to have a hydration break every 15 minutes, then we shouldn’t be playing.”

Fair enough. However, Argentina is set to play Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday. MetLife Stadium is located ~20 miles to the west of Citi Field.

If Rodman didn’t think the NWSL should play a regular season game because of the smoke, should the international teams be asked to play in a nearby stadium just a few days later? It seems like it will not be an issue but conditions must show rapid improvement over the next 24 hours.

Will the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium be impacted by the wildfires?

A timelapse video from outside of ‘New York-New Jersey Stadium’ shows the wildfire smoke roll in to the Meadowlands on July 16. The haze only got thicker as the day went on. It was covered in a thick layer by late afternoon.

Here is another look:

Fortunately, it was looking much better on Friday afternoon.

However, the smoke rolled back in overnight to create unhealthy air quality across the Tri-State area on Saturday morning. The AQI hovered around 182 in New York City.

FIFA is not worried about the World Cup final on Sunday. President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino were set to meet on Friday afternoon. Members of the administration continue to monitor the situation alongside soccer’s governing body.

As of this writing, the plan is to play the game as scheduled. A cold front is supposed to come through and clear out the smoke for Sunday.

Heavy storms are also in the forecast for Saturday evening.

Assuming the weather system acts as it is supposed to, New York and New Jersey will not be impacted by the wildfire smoke on Sunday afternoon. But that is a big assumption. What happens if the smoke does not clear? We’re going to find out…