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FIFA President Gianni Infantino is set to meet with White House officials on Friday to discuss the potential impact of wildfire smoke on Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The discussions center on the health and safety risks posed to players and fans by air quality conditions in the New York area, which have been affected by more than 800 wildfires burning across Canada this week.
FIFA has no plans to relocate the final, and officials say it remains unlikely the match will be postponed or moved despite lingering concerns.
White House World Cup task force executive director Andrew Giuliani said informal discussions have taken place, noting that a National Weather Service representative is stationed at FIFA's headquarters to closely monitor conditions.
Air quality alerts have been issued across multiple US states, with the Environmental Protection Agency classifying readings in cities including Detroit and Minneapolis as hazardous.
Conditions improved somewhat on Friday, and forecasters expect further clearing by the weekend. The rain forecast for Saturday afternoon and evening in the New York area is expected to help clear some of the smoke.
The National Weather Service's New York office said smoke would likely persist through Friday, particularly in southern areas, but at reduced intensity compared to the previous day.
Forecasts for Sunday at 3 p.m. in East Rutherford show clear skies with temperatures around 27 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit). New York's statewide emergency declaration has since expired.
Both finalists, Spain and Argentina, trained outdoors in New Jersey on Friday as scheduled.
The wildfire smoke has already affected professional sports in the US. A Thursday MLS match between the Chicago Fire and Vancouver Whitecaps was postponed due to poor air quality, while an MLB game in Philadelphia was moved up by an hour as a precaution.
An NWSL match between Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit proceeded as scheduled on Wednesday despite worse conditions, with two hydration breaks added in each half.
There are currently more than 800 active wildfires burning across Canada, according to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System, with the majority burning out of control.
Northwesterly winds have pushed smoke into northern US states throughout the week, though a shift in wind direction expected by Monday is projected to steer smoke toward Quebec and improve air quality further south.
The fires have prompted diplomatic exchanges between US and Canadian officials. Republican lawmakers in Michigan sent an open letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticizing the country's wildfire management for a third consecutive year.
Carney responded that both countries share responsibility for addressing climate change, adding that his government remains in close communication with affected provinces.
In northern Ontario, wildfires have forced residents of several First Nations communities to evacuate, with some fleeing by boat.
FIFA previously deployed air quality monitoring systems during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and continues to track conditions ahead of Sunday's final.
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