Wildfire Smoke Turns New York Sky Orange Ahead of World Cup Final

Smoke from wildfires in Ontario reached New York on Thursday, turning the sky orange and mixing with a heat dome that kept particles near the ground. Officials in New York and New Jersey issued health alerts and advised residents to limit outdoor activity and stay indoors when possible. The air quality index reached unhealthy levels across the region.

The haze arrived in the city on 15 July.

Forecasters said conditions should improve on Friday, with rain expected on Saturday to help clear the smoke. New Yorkers described the haze as less intense than the June 2023 event that turned skies fully orange. A National Women's Soccer League match between Gotham FC and Washington Spirit proceeded on Wednesday night at Citi Field in Queens despite the haze.

Players took two mandated breaks per half under league policy. Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman said afterward that the air quality was rough and the teams should not have played, adding that both sides repeatedly requested breaks.

The timing coincides with preparations for the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, scheduled for 20:00 BST on Sunday at the open-air New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford. The venue has no roof, leaving players and an expected 82,500 spectators exposed to conditions.

Spain arrived in New Jersey on Wednesday night after defeating France in Texas and trained outdoors on Thursday without apparent effects. Argentina remained in Georgia after beating England and will begin training in New Jersey on Friday afternoon. Neither FIFA nor local authorities have indicated any plan to postpone the match.

Contractor Dan Edgar reported that his daughter Kaitlynn, who will perform at the final, texted that conditions at the stadium made dancing difficult because the air felt heavy. In Chicago, an MLS match between the Fire and Vancouver Whitecaps was postponed on Thursday due to similar conditions, delaying Robert Lewandowski's debut for the Fire.