FIFA will not move the FIFA World Cup 2026 final despite concerns over smoke from Canadian wildfires affecting air quality in the New York area, according to a Bloomberg report. Officials have discussed the issue informally. However, FIFA has not made any formal decision. It has also not held any official meeting on the matter.

FIFA Monitors Air Quality Closely

FIFA has set up a command centre in Miami for the tournament. Staff from the US National Weather Service are monitoring weather and air quality throughout the competition.

Bob Oravec, a senior forecaster at the US Weather Prediction Center, said smoke over New York City will likely worsen on Saturday. However, he expects conditions to improve by Sunday, when the World Cup final will take place.

New York Faces Dangerous Air Pollution

Smoke from Canadian wildfires pushed New York's air quality to dangerous levels on Thursday. The city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 208. That falls under the "very unhealthy" category. New York also ranked among the world's most polluted cities that day. The poor air quality has raised concerns for players, officials and fans.

Spain Players Smell Smoke During Training

Spain midfielder Mikel Merino said players could smell the wildfire smoke during training. Speaking to AP on Friday, he said, "For a game that is as important as a World Cup final, you have to be able to shut out external factors as much as possible."

He added, "Luckily, we are being careful with every detail thanks to the federation and the organizers of the World Cup." pain trained outdoors in East Hanover, New Jersey, on Thursday. Several experts said the team should have trained indoors because of the hazardous air.

Scientists Warn Smoke Could Return

Scientists say another wave of wildfire smoke could still reach New York and New Jersey before the final. Mark Parrington, a senior scientist at the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, told AP, "Following that, it looks like there is another smoky air mass following in behind that system, but it’s not clear right now how much or how it might reach New York or New Jersey, when it comes to actually Sunday."

He added, "If the fire intensity really picks up again through (Saturday), it’s possible it puts more smoke into the atmosphere that then might quickly follow that rain event."

Experts will continue tracking weather conditions until kickoff.

Pollution May Affect Player Performance

Doctors say even moderate air pollution can affect athletes during intense matches. Chantal Darquenne, a professor of medicine at the University of California, said the impact depends on pollution levels.

"It’s kind of a dose-dependent effect," Darquenne told AP. She added, "If it’s moderate, it’s going to be less of an effect, but it’s still going to be there, especially because they are doing vigorous exercise during these events."

Medical experts say players breathe more polluted air during intense exercise. That can reduce performance and increase stress on the lungs.

Trump Blames Canada

US President Donald Trump blamed Canada for the smoke on social media. "We are holding Canada responsible," he said. He also said the US "is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!”

Final Still Set for Sunday

FIFA still plans to hold the World Cup final on Sunday. Officials will keep monitoring air quality and weather conditions. However, the tournament schedule remains unchanged for now.