World Cup organizers confirmed on Friday that they are keeping a close watch on the thick smoke currently blanketing parts of the United States as the tournament approaches its final match in New Jersey this weekend. Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House World Cup task force, stated during a briefing that officials are actively monitoring the situation through a designated representative from the National Weather Service who is stationed at FIFA headquarters.
The smoke, which originated from wildfires in northern Ontario, has triggered air quality alerts across the US Midwest and Northeast. While authorities have advised the public to remain indoors or utilize masks when outside, the poor air quality has sparked significant concerns regarding the ability of teams to train outdoors. Experts have suggested that teams should prioritize indoor practice sessions in air-conditioned, clean-air facilities rather than relying on masks, noting that ensuring a proper fit for N95 masks during physical activity is not an ideal solution.
Despite the hazardous conditions, the Spanish national team conducted an outdoor training session in northern New Jersey on Thursday. Meanwhile, Argentina has opted to remain in the Atlanta, Georgia area for their preparations. Marietta, Georgia, is located far enough south to avoid the smoke drifting southeast from Canada. Argentina stayed in the Atlanta area to train less than 24 hours after coming from behind to beat England and reach a second consecutive World Cup final.
“That’s the time to schedule a practice inside. You could put an N95 mask on them, but trying to make sure that everybody’s mask is well-fitted, I suspect that’s not the best choice. I would go find an air-conditioned indoor facility that’s a clean-air shelter.”
