‘Dirty, dirty air’: Trump blames Canada as fire smoke engulfs Argentina vs Spain World Cup final | Football News
“We hold Canada responsible.”With those words, US President Donald Trump pushed politics in the build-up to the final of the FIFA World Cup on Sunday, blaming Canada for the smoke of the fire that covered parts of the northeastern United States and raised new uncertainty about the conditions for football’s biggest game.In a post on his social media platform, Trump said that the United States is “unnecessarily invaded by dirty, dirty, and bad air, the quality of which is dangerous, and completely unacceptable!” He also threatened new tariffs on Canada because of smoke drifting south from the many wildfires burning across the country.The comments came as organizers, teams and meteorologists continue to closely monitor air quality ahead of the Argentina-Spain final at the open-air New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, where nearly 80,000 fans are expected.While forecasts currently predict “moderate” air quality through kickoff, experts warn that uncertainty remains over whether a cloud of smoke could follow heavy rain expected on Saturday.
The smoky forecast left the World Cup final under a cloud
Spain midfielder Mikel Merino admitted it was impossible to ignore the smoke, saying players could “see and smell” the haze hanging over northern New Jersey.However, the midfielder insists that Spain are trying to block the distraction.“For a game as important as a World Cup final, you have to prevent external factors as much as possible,” said Merino. “Luckily, we took care of every detail thanks to the federation and the organizers.”Spain trained outdoors on Thursday despite dangerous air quality, a decision that drew criticism from health experts who believe the session should be moved indoors.Scientists say uncertainty lies in what will happen after Saturday’s rains.Mark Parrington, senior scientist at the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, warned of another smoky wind that could quickly follow the weather system if wildfire activity intensifies.“The question is whether the smoke behind the system will reach ground level in northern New Jersey on Sunday and, if so, how concentrated it will be,” added Weather Channel meteorologist Jonathan Belles, noting that forecasts so far range from low ground level to concentrations that could be particularly worrying for players and spectators.Medical experts warn that even “moderate” air pollution can affect elite athletes because intense exercise increases the amount of polluted air inhaled.
FIFA is confident despite weather concerns
Despite the lingering uncertainty, tournament organizers remain optimistic that the final will go ahead without disruption.Trump met FIFA president Gianni Infantino in New York on Friday, where both leaders hailed the expanded 48-team tournament as a landmark success.Standing next to the World Cup trophy, Infantino praised the event’s impact.“The American dream, Mr. President, has come true. We united the world,” he said, adding that millions of fans united “peacefully, joyfully” across the United States, Canada and Mexico.Trump echoed those sentiments, calling the competition “one of the greatest sporting events in history” before wishing the two finalists well.“So good luck to Spain and Argentina on Sunday, and may the best team win,” the US president said.With record attendances, sold-out stadiums and global television audiences already making the tournament one of FIFA’s biggest successes, organizers will now be hoping the only drama left on Sunday comes on the pitch – and not from the smoky skies over New Jersey.
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