New York World Cup final faces challenges from smoke, travel, and Trump

By Noah Lavoie — 18 July 2026 — 4 min read

Air quality concerns in New York

The upcoming World Cup final in the New York New Jersey Stadium, also known as the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, is facing unexpected challenges, including thick smoke that has enveloped New York and much of the eastern seaboard. This situation has drawn attention from cities like Dallas and Los Angeles, which were also contenders to host the final. These cities’ stadiums were reportedly passed over in February 2024 when Fifa awarded the final to New York, a decision influenced by the city’s global appeal and favourable timezone for European television audiences.

Initial concerns for the final at MetLife primarily focused on the extreme summer heat often experienced in New York. Last year, Chelsea‘s Enzo Fernández described playing conditions during the Club World Cup semi-final as “very dangerous” due to the heat. Now, the poor air quality presents a new obstacle for Fifa.

Wildfires in Canada have caused thick smoke to spread across many eastern U.S. cities. On Thursday, an air quality advisory in these regions was elevated from “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy.” In western New York, the air quality on July 16 was deemed “very unhealthy,” while the New York City metro area registered “unhealthy” air quality. Many residents in the city have been seen wearing masks for protection.

New York city hall’s emergency management officials issued a citywide code red from Tuesday to Thursday, advising residents to remain indoors unless absolutely necessary and to avoid strenuous physical activity. These conditions are far from ideal for a major global sporting event expected to draw a worldwide television audience of 1.6 billion.

The smoke was visibly thick in downtown Manhattan, obscuring landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty across the Hudson River. Conditions were severe enough to cause the cancellation of numerous flights from New Jersey’s Newark airport. A timelapse video showed the World Cup final stadium nearly disappearing in the smoky haze, and the Empire State Building was also affected.

Conditions began to improve on Friday, and Fifa officials are reportedly confident that the situation will clear up by Sunday, especially with rain forecast for Saturday. However, sports events have already been impacted. A National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) match between Gotham and Washington Spirit in Queens on Wednesday was played in an orange-brown haze, leading to two additional breaks during each half in line with the NWSL’s poor air policy. The prospect of further stoppages in the World Cup final, following previous furore over hydration breaks, could cause additional controversy.

Logistical and VIP challenges

Despite the weather issues, New York has shown significant enthusiasm for the World Cup. Although the New York Knicks’ historic NBA championship victory over the San Antonio Spurs initially overshadowed the start of the tournament last month, the event has since gained considerable momentum. All seven previous games at MetLife have been sold out, and securing restaurant and bar bookings to watch England’s semi-final defeat by Argentina this week was reportedly difficult.

Beyond the weather, a significant remaining challenge for the final involves transportation to the stadium. MetLife Stadium is known among NFL fans for its limited public transport options and the difficulties of navigating the Lincoln Tunnel, which connects Manhattan with New Jersey. Parking on Sunday will be restricted to guests and VIPs, and the cost of bus and rail travel for the tournament has been significantly increased.

A joint intervention by the New York and New Jersey governments, including a subsidy, has reduced the initial matchday return price for New Jersey Transit trains from $150 to $98. However, this cost remains high for what is approximately a 20-minute journey. For those seeking alternatives, shuttle buses from Manhattan will be available for $20.

Another notable concern for Fifa is the anticipated presence of Donald Trump. His helicopter, Marine One, is expected to fly over the stadium before landing at the nearby Teterboro airport. While Fifa has not publicly stated its concerns, managing the former president’s involvement is reportedly a consideration. Following controversy surrounding Trump’s appearance at Chelsea‘s Club World Cup celebrations last year, which reportedly left captain Reece James bemused, Fifa has confirmed that Trump will present the trophy alongside Infantino.

A precedent for this type of presentation was set four years ago when the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, placed a traditional Arab cloak on Lionel Messi’s shoulders before the Argentina captain received the trophy from Infantino. Fifa held talks with Trump at Trump Tower on Friday afternoon, a meeting that necessitated road closures for several blocks and caused disruption on Fifth Avenue.

Source: theguardian.com