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Smoke from massive wildfires in Canada has spread across much of the northeastern United States, covering New York and surrounding areas in a thick haze and prompting health warnings ahead of Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final.
More than 80,000 fans are expected to attend the final at the open-air New York-New Jersey stadium, while another 50,000 people are expected to gather at Central Park in Manhattan to watch the match on giant screens.
New York City has been affected by the drifting wildfire smoke throughout the week. Local authorities have urged residents to limit strenuous outdoor activities, especially children, older adults and people with heart or lung conditions.
On Thursday, air quality in New Jersey, where the World Cup final will be played, was rated as “unhealthy for sensitive groups” by several air quality monitoring services.
Meteorologists, however, said a cold front moving into the region over the weekend is expected to improve air quality by dispersing the smoke before Sunday’s final, reducing the health risks for players and spectators.
The wildfire smoke has affected millions of people across the northeastern United States in recent days, highlighting the growing impact of Canada’s severe wildfire season on neighbouring regions.