Canadian wildfire smoke blankets US northeast ahead of World Cup final in New York

Wildfire smoke from Canadian blazes has blanketed much of the US Northeast ahead of the World Cup final in the New York area, prompting air-quality alerts and warnings to limit outdoor activity. New York City began feeling the effects this week, and New Jersey—where the match will be played—was rated “unhealthy for sensitive groups” on Thursday. While a cold front expected over the weekend should help clear the haze before Sunday, experts said lingering hazy, hot conditions could still pose challenges for players, including respiratory stress and cardiovascular strain. The final on Sunday, between holders Argentina and European champions Spain, is set to kick off at 1500 Eastern time (1900 GMT) at the open-air New York-New Jersey stadium, with more than 80,000 expected in attendance and another 50,000 watching from Central Park.