New York shrouded in smoke days before World Cup final

New York City’s air quality plummeted on Thursday as smoke from Canadian wildfires drifted south, prompting health warnings for residents and tourists alike. The deterioration forced the cancellation of an outdoor concert in Manhattan, though organizers of Sunday’s World Cup final in nearby New Jersey said the match remains on schedule.

Sirintip Phasuk, a Swedish musician living on Manhattan, said her band planned to perform by the Hudson River on Thursday but scrapped the show after air quality alerts. “We woke up to a strong smell of smoke,” she told SVT. “It didn’t feel safe.” By Friday, she described the sky as hazy, like a camera filter, and carried a face mask during a walk.

Health experts at NYU Langone Health advised limiting outdoor exposure and using masks rated to filter fine particles when venturing outside. Neelima Tummala, an ear-nose-throat specialist, said the smoke contains hazardous pollutants affecting an estimated 115 million people across North America.

Organizers of the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain said improving conditions and forecasted rain on Saturday should ease the haze before kickoff. No changes to the match schedule have been announced.