New York and New Jersey have prepared to host the most important event in the world of football, but an unexpected threat has imposed itself just days before the starting whistle. Instead of everyone being preoccupied with the technical preparations for the anticipated clash between Spain and Argentina, attention has turned to the sky, where thick smoke from wildfires in Canada is raising growing concerns about the possibility of holding the match in safe conditions.

US authorities are monitoring air quality around the clock, while weather forecasts appear optimistic so far, but the final decision will remain contingent on what the skies over New Jersey bring in the coming hours, according to the Spanish newspaper Marca.

New York City woke up to an unfamiliar sight, as the Manhattan skyline disappeared behind a thick layer of gray haze, while masks reappeared on the streets years after they vanished since the coronavirus pandemic.

Just three days before the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, the raging wildfires in Canada have placed the biggest football event in the world before an unexpected environmental threat.

Dr. Courtney Howard, an emergency physician and representative of the Global Climate and Health Alliance, said: 'Players should not train outdoors when air quality reaches dangerous levels. I advise seeking indoor facilities with clean air.'

Despite rising concerns, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has not yet spoken about the possibility of postponing the match. However, the smoke from the fires has put MetLife Stadium under constant monitoring, not because of a direct threat to the final, but because air quality has become the foremost issue for health and meteorological authorities in New York and New Jersey.

Air Quality Index: The number that could decide the fate of the final

US authorities have issued air pollution alerts, recommending reducing physical activities in open spaces, and urging people with respiratory diseases to take extra precautions.

Everyone is monitoring the Air Quality Index (AQI), the scale that measures the concentration of pollutant particles in the air, which can change significantly within hours depending on wind direction and speed.

Neither the gray sky nor the smell of smoke permeating the New York metropolitan area will be the decisive factor in holding the match; rather, the actual reading of the Air Quality Index will be the arbiter, as confirmed by the newspaper Marca.

When this index exceeds certain levels, health authorities consider the air no longer safe for strenuous physical activity.

On Thursday, monitoring stations recorded levels ranging from 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' to 'hazardous' in some areas of New Jersey during certain periods of the day.

However, one of the biggest questions raised during the World Cup remains, as FIFA has not yet set a minimum or official threshold that would require postponing a match due to air pollution.

Consequently, any potential decision will depend on the assessment of health authorities and meteorological agencies, if the Air Quality Index reaches unsafe levels at the time of the match, as reported by Marca.

Rain gives organizers a dose of optimism

Despite the prevailing concern, weather forecasts are giving organizers a measure of optimism about holding the final on schedule.

Meteorological models indicate the possibility of heavy rain on Saturday, followed by a cold front arriving early Sunday morning, which could help dissipate the accumulated smoke over New York and New Jersey before kickoff.

For this reason, US authorities and FIFA are not currently considering the option of postponing the final.

But experts warn that the movement of smoke is directly linked to wind direction, making the situation subject to rapid change, so air quality data is being updated continuously around the clock.

In this context, Dr. Courtney Howard stressed the danger of exposing athletes to such conditions, saying: 'These are elite athletes, and they consume huge amounts of air through their lungs during performance. They should not train outdoors when air quality reaches dangerous levels, and I advise seeking indoor facilities with clean air.'

Her comments came to the Associated Press after the Spanish national team, led by coach Luis de la Fuente, held one of its training sessions in East Hanover, despite the thick blanket of smoke that hung over the area.