New Delhi: Smoke from Canada’s ongoing wildfires has pushed air quality into the “unhealthy” range across parts of the United States, raising concerns ahead of Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at the New York-New Jersey Stadium.
Air Quality Index (AQI) readings have climbed into unhealthy levels in several cities, including Detroit and Chicago, as smoke from the fires spread southward. The deteriorating air quality has prompted questions over whether the World Cup’s showpiece event could face disruption.
However, atmospheric scientist Dan Westervelt of Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory said current forecasts suggest conditions should improve before the final.
“AQI or Air Quality Indices are very much in the unhealthy range, unhealthy for all groups, not just sensitive groups,” Westervelt told Reuters.
He compared the current smoke event to 2023, when poor air quality forced the postponement of several sporting events, including a New York Yankees baseball game.
“There was a smoke event really bad that was reminiscent of this in 2023 and that did postpone some sporting events. The Yankees, for example, cancelled the game,” he said.
Westervelt, however, said rain forecast for Saturday across the New York tri-state area is expected to improve conditions.
“So Saturday there is rain in the forecast for the Tri-State New York area… we do have a ceiling on how bad this could get by Saturday. I am expecting that by Saturday, with the rain, things should be a little bit better,” he said.
He added that shifting winds should also carry much of the smoke away from the region.
“The first big wave of smoke that we’ve seen will also have cleared out… it will have gone over into the ocean, transporting further downwind.”
At present, Westervelt said he does not expect the deteriorating air quality to significantly affect World Cup events over the weekend.
“At this time, I wouldn’t necessarily expect there to be major disruption to the Saturday and Sunday World Cup events,” he said.
Tournament organisers have not announced any changes to the schedule of the World Cup final.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)