The dense smoke that has enveloped New York and much of the eastern U.S. in recent days has prompted some amusement in Dallas and Los Angeles. Residents in those cities are watching with a sense of schadenfreude as the World Cup final is set to take place tomorrow at the New York/New Jersey Stadium, commonly known as MetLife Stadium.
Dallas and Los Angeles were overlooked when FIFA selected the final venue in February 2024, despite their stadiums being more impressive and less susceptible to the climatic challenges posed by New York. The city was chosen for its global appeal and favorable time zone for European audiences.
Concerns regarding the final at MetLife initially centered on the intense summer heat that often afflicts New York, leading Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández to describe last year’s Club World Cup semi-final conditions as “very dangerous.” This week, however, FIFA has been faced with the unanticipated issue of poor air quality due to smoke from Canadian wildfires.
Thick smoke has spread southward from the wildfires, resulting in an air quality advisory that shifted from “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy” late Thursday. The city’s emergency management officials issued a code red for Tuesday through Thursday, advising residents to remain indoors unless absolutely necessary and to avoid strenuous activities, which is hardly ideal for the biggest event in global sports, anticipated to attract a television audience of 1.6 billion.
The smoke was starkly visible in downtown Manhattan, obscuring views of the Statue of Liberty across the Hudson River. The air quality was so poor that numerous flights out of New Jersey’s Newark airport were canceled.
Conditions began to improve by Friday, and FIFA officials expressed optimism that the situation would be better by Sunday. Rain is forecast for Saturday, which is hoped to alleviate the worst of the smoke; however, sporting events have already been affected.
A National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) match between Gotham and Washington Spirit on Wednesday occurred amid an orange-brown haze, resulting in players being instructed to take additional breaks in each half due to the league’s air quality policy.
Given the controversy surrounding FIFA’s introduction of hydration breaks at the World Cup, the prospect of additional stoppages could provoke further backlash.
The weather-related challenges are particularly disheartening for New York, as the final venue was selected with a global audience in mind, and the city has enthusiastically embraced the World Cup.
While the New York Knicks’ historic NBA championship victory over the San Antonio Spurs overshadowed the start of the lengthy tournament last month, the event has gained substantial momentum since then.
All seven previous matches at MetLife have sold out, with many struggling to find reservations at restaurants and bars to watch England’s semi-final loss to Argentina this week.
Beyond weather concerns, significant logistical issues loom over the final. The stadium is often considered difficult to access, particularly for NFL fans, due to limited public transport and the challenges posed by the Lincoln Tunnel, which connects Manhattan to New Jersey.
Compounding the situation, parking on Sunday is restricted to guests and VIPs, and the costs for bus and rail travel have risen sharply for the tournament. A collaborative effort from the governments of New York and New Jersey has lowered the initial matchday return fare for New Jersey transit trains from $150 (£112) to $98, yet this remains steep for a 20-minute journey. For those deterred by the high prices, shuttle buses from Manhattan will be available for $20.
Donald Trump is expected to make a grand entrance, with his helicopter, Marine One, set to fly over the stadium before landing at nearby Teterboro airport. Although FIFA has not publicly commented, managing the president is also a significant concern. Following the controversy over Trump seemingly intruding on Chelsea’s Club World Cup celebrations, which left captain Reece James bewildered, FIFA has proactively confirmed that he will present the trophy alongside Infantino. A precedent was established during the last World Cup when the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, placed a traditional Arab cloak on Lionel Messi before the Argentine captain received the trophy from Infantino. With Trump, there’s no telling what he may have in mind.
FIFA sought clarity by holding discussions with the president at Trump Tower on Friday afternoon, an event that necessitated road closures for several blocks, causing traffic chaos on Fifth Avenue. FIFA will hope that this is not a foreshadowing of future complications.
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