FIFA has no plans to move Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain out of MetLife Stadium, Bloomberg reported, even as wildfire smoke pushed air quality near the venue deeper into unhealthy territory Saturday.
The final kicks off at 3 p.m. ET at the stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Smoke drifting south from Canadian wildfires has blanketed the New York–New Jersey region for days.
Jersey City’s air quality index hit 186 by late Saturday morning, deep in the “Unhealthy” range, according to IQAir. The reading at 4 a.m. was 166. Fine particle pollution, or PM2.5, drove the number, measuring 106.1 micrograms per cubic meter.
IQAir’s forecast still shows relief before kickoff. Jersey City’s daily index is expected to fall from Saturday’s levels to 85 on Sunday.
There have been informal discussions about the smoke involving FIFA and Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House World Cup task force, according to the Bloomberg report. A White House official told the outlet that no major formal meeting on the matter is scheduled.
Most of the smoke should clear by Sunday. — Bob Oravec, senior forecaster, U.S. Weather Prediction Center, to Bloomberg
Oravec’s forecast lines up with the improving outlook near the stadium, leaving FIFA’s position unchanged heading into the final.
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