Orange haze looms over New York ahead of World Cup final

A thick orange haze hung over New York on Thursday, blanketing streets as city officials scrambled to ready the World Cup final set for Sunday at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, while health alerts warned residents of very unhealthy air quality and urged them to limit outdoor exposure. New York and New Jersey officials issued an air‑quality health alert after smoke from Canadian wildfires spread across the US northeast and southern Canada, blanketing the region and raising concerns ahead of the final. The orange haze now covers the metropolitan area, intensifying worries for fans and locals alike. The New York Office of Emergency Management said on Thursday that air‑quality levels had reached “very unhealthy” levels. Officials urged people to stay indoors and restrict outdoor time to no more than one hour.

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Spain’s squad arrived in New Jersey on Wednesday night, a day after beating France in the semi‑final. They trained outdoors on Thursday and appeared unaffected by the smoky conditions. Argentina is scheduled to begin training in New Jersey on Friday. Forecasts call for rain on Saturday that should help disperse the smoke before the Sunday final, and organisers hope the weather improvement will clear the air for the match. The final will be played in the open‑air New York New Jersey Stadium, but organisers expect the weather to improve by then. Spectators will still be able to watch the match despite the lingering haze. A National Women’s Soccer League match between Gotham FC and Washington Spirit went ahead in Queens on Wednesday. Players were required to take two breaks per half because of the poor air quality, highlighting the broader impact of the haze on sporting events across the city.