New York City has been placed under an air quality alert just days before the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, which will take place in nearby New Jersey.

This year’s final marks the second time the United States is hosting a World Cup final and the first time it will be held on the country’s East Coast. The last U.S.-based final took place 32 years ago, when Brazil faced Italy at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

While the 2026 World Cup has occasionally experienced delays due to weather conditions, current forecasts suggest that Sunday’s final will not face any such disruptions.

The latest air quality warnings stem from widespread wildfires burning across Canada. Smoke from these fires has drifted south, affecting large parts of North America. Major cities, including Toronto, have been enveloped in thick smoke, leading to hazardous air conditions.

In the United States, both Detroit and New York have reported sharp declines in air quality, with alerts also issued in several other cities across the country.

In New York City, the air quality advisory was first issued earlier this week and escalated from ‘Unhealthy’ to ‘Very Unhealthy’ on Thursday night. Fortunately, conditions showed signs of improvement by Friday morning, and current projections indicate that the World Cup final will proceed as planned.

Rain is expected on Saturday, which officials believe will help further clear the air. Domestic football competitions have already felt the impact of the poor conditions earlier in the week.

BBC Sport reported, “The smoke-filled sky and extremely hot temperatures have already been felt by some footballers. The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) conducted a match between Gotham FC and Washington Spirit on Wednesday night at Citi Field in Queens despite the orange haze, drawing a record crowd.”

The report added, “Due to the air quality index readings, players were required to take two breaks per half in accordance with NWSL policy.”

Spain secured their place in the World Cup final for the second time after defeating France 2-0 in Tuesday’s semi-final. On Wednesday, Argentina came from behind to beat England 2-1. The defending champions will now appear in their third final in the last four tournaments.

The final will be staged at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which serves as the home ground for the NFL’s New York Jets and New York Giants.

The venue has been filled to capacity for all seven of its previous World Cup matches, starting with the Group C encounter between Brazil and Morocco, which was officiated by Slavko Vincic, who will also referee the final. Brazil, Senegal, France, and Norway have each played twice at the stadium, but this will be the first appearance in New Jersey for both Spain and Argentina.