With the 2026 FIFA World Cup final approaching, an air quality alert has been issued for the New York and New Jersey areas in the United States due to wildfire smoke.

The BBC reported on July 17 (local time) that thick haze from Canadian wildfires has blanketed the New York and New Jersey regions, prompting authorities to advise residents to refrain from outdoor activities and stay indoors.

The New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the final between Spain and Argentina will take place, is an open-air stadium without a roof.

The final, which is expected to draw over 80,000 spectators and feature a spectacular halftime show, is currently scheduled to proceed as planned without any changes to the schedule.

Meteorological authorities expect air quality in the region to begin improving starting July 17 (local time), with rain forecast for July 18 expected to help clear the smoke.

The final match of the tournament will be held on July 19 (local time).

The Spanish national team, which arrived in New Jersey on Wednesday night after defeating France 2-0 in the semifinals held in Texas, completed their outdoor training session as scheduled on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Argentine national team, which had been staying in Georgia, is scheduled to begin their local adaptation training in New Jersey starting Friday afternoon.

The deterioration of local air quality is already affecting other sporting events.

The match between NJ/NY Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit, held at Citi Field in Queens on Wednesday night, went ahead amidst an orange-tinted haze.

Although mandatory cooling breaks were provided twice in each half according to regulations, some players, including Washington's Trinity Rodman, expressed frustration after the match, stating that it should not have been played.

The match between the Chicago Fire and the Vancouver Whitecaps, which was scheduled to be held in Chicago on Thursday, was postponed due to poor air quality.

That match was set to feature the debut of Robert Lewandowski, a former FC Barcelona striker who recently joined Chicago as a free agent.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)