Will Wildfire Smoke Disrupt World Cup Finals In New York?

The Statue of Liberty stands during sunset as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Much of the Midwest and East Coast has been blanketed in smoke the past few days. The source of the smoky conditions and dangerously bad air quality is wildfires in Canada and parts of the upper Great Plains of the United States. The FIFA World Cup finals match is scheduled for Sunday afternoon in the New York City and New Jersey area. Will the compelling match between Spain and Argentina be hampered by the smoke?

Current Conditions

At the time of writing Friday morning, much of the Northeast and Midwest was still dealing with air quality indices ranging in the unhealthy to hazardous range because of the smoke. At 3 am Friday morning, New York City was in the unhealthy range, which means many people are susceptible to potential health effects. Vulnerable groups and people with respiratory health issues could experience more serious health impacts.

These conditions are serious and should not be taken lightly. Last night, for example, the Phillies and Mets played a Major League Baseball game in Philadelphia. Durng the game, AQI conditions were rated “unhealthy,” according to atmospheric scientist and University of Georgia doctoral student Jordan McLeod. Such conditions are hazardous to players, fans, umpires, and stadium workers. The sportscasters covering the game even took note of the conditions.

Small particulate matter, often referred to as PM2.5, are primary markers of poor air quality and pollution. A 2020 study found that up to 100,000 people die annually in the U.S. due to poor air quality. A more recent 2026 study linked nearly 25,000 deaths to wildfire smoke in the U.S. from 2006 to 2020. “Invisible particles penetrate cells and organs in our bodies – our lungs, heart, blood and brain. This leads to diseases like asthma, strokes, heart attacks, cancer and dementia, as well as low birth weight, stillbirths and miscarriages,” wrote the Clean Air Fund website.

Expected Conditions This Weekend

The forecast for the rest of Friday keeps much of the Northeast corridor and Midwest in the worrisome categories, particularly locations closest to the wildfire sources. By Saturday and Sunday, air quality conditions could improve somewhat in places like New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. AQI forecasts indicate “moderate” or more favorable conditions. However, at-risk members of the public should remain diligent. By Sunday, the most dangerous conditions will likely be in Minnesota and Wisconsin, with pockets of marginally-unhealthy locations in the mountainous regions of the Mid-Atlantic.

What’s Going On?

A massive heat dome has been present over the upper part of the United States and Canada for days. It has featured historically warm temperatures and dry conditions. It is the same heat dome that featured 110 degree Fahrenheit temperatures in Montana last weekend. Guess what such conditions often lead to? Yep, wildfires.

The map above from NASA’s FIRMS website identifies the number of wildfires over the past seven days. While many wildfires are evident,the cluster of fires to the northwest of the Great Lakes region has been the primary culprit for the poor air quality and smoke in the U.S. Unfortunately, a newly-released report on weather and climate attribution suggests that extreme heat waves, drought, and wildfire activity are now being impacted by climate change. As such, policy actions will be required rather than blame games.

It appears conditions will improve for the World Cup finals match. Let’s hope so as the tournament has featured compelling soccer even for the casual viewer like me. We always knew that extreme heat would be a factor in these World Cup games. Unfortunately, drought and wildfires are also associated with extreme heat waves.

Welcome to the new normal. This isn’t just summer.