White House and FIFA to Review Air Quality Concerns Ahead of World Cup Final
U.S. officials will meet with FIFA President Gianni Infantino to assess health risks from Canadian wildfire smoke before Sunday's World Cup final in New Jersey.
White House representatives are scheduled to meet with FIFA President Gianni Infantino today to discuss possible health impacts of lingering Canadian wildfire smoke on the World Cup final set for Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The meeting will address air-quality conditions that have fluctuated between "Poor" and "Unhealthy" levels, according to the National Weather Service, with forecasts indicating clearer skies and moderate temperatures for the match day.
President Donald Trump is expected to attend the 3 p.m. Eastern Time final between Spain and Argentina and to present the trophy to the winner. He is also slated to join a FIFA reception later today at Trump Tower in Manhattan.
Officials noted that cancellation of the event would only be considered if air quality deteriorated to a "Hazardous" level, a scenario they deem unlikely based on current expert projections. The smoke originates from wildfires in Canada near the Minnesota border, which have affected the Northeast and Midwest this week.
The final will be broadcast in English on Fox and in Spanish on Telemundo, with streaming options available through the Fox One app, Peacock, YouTube TV, Fubo and Hulu.