Wildfire smoke engulfs millions in US ahead of World Cup final

Dense wildfire smoke drifting from Canada has created unhealthy air quality across the U.S. Northeast and Midwest, prompting alerts and concern, particularly as the World Cup final approaches.

On Friday, cities like Detroit, Washington, and New York experienced severe air pollution, with Detroit topping global rankings according to tracker IQAir. Officials advised against prolonged outdoor exposure.

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The United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!

U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Canada's handling of the wildfires, calling the resulting pollution "totally unacceptable" and stating his intention to discuss the matter with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Trump suggested that the cost of the pollution should be added to Canada's existing tariffs.

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I don't believe that this should be as impactful as if you might be playing a game today.

While air quality in the New York metropolitan area saw some improvement from previous days, the National Weather Service warned that smoke could thicken overnight. Meteorologists noted that winds over the Great Lakes might push more smoke into the Northeast, potentially affecting the open-stadium World Cup final on Sunday.

Tournament organizers are closely monitoring the air quality, with contingency plans likely being considered. Forecasters indicated that the impact on Sunday's game might be less severe than if the game were held on Friday, but the situation remains fluid due to shifting weather patterns.

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Some of the models are starting to indicate that we'll start to pull down some smoke.