Wildfire Smoke Threatens the World Cup Final
The biggest soccer match is scheduled for Sunday, when Argentina and Spain will face off in the World Cup final, held outside of New York City. There's just one problem — wildfire smoke is now threatening the match and FIFA, the sport's governing body, doesn't seem to have a plan in place to protect the health of players and spectators.
What's happening
Wildfire smoke blowing in from Canada has blanketed large swaths of the Midwest and East Coast in recent days, affecting more than a dozen states, with some of the hardest-hit cities facing air quality levels considered hazardous. New Yorkers are just some of those who have watched the air in their city turn orange and hazy this week. On Thursday, the state issued an alert when the air quality index rose to 'unhealthy' and 'very unhealthy'.
Why it matters
Air quality near the stadium remained at unhealthy levels until Friday morning and, although it's forecasted to improve to 'moderate' before the match, smoke patterns can change. If concerns persist during the final, there's no way to enclose the outdoor stadium where stars like Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal are scheduled to face off. This means that spectators and players would almost certainly be exposed to the smoke, which could lead to symptoms like sore throat, coughing, or headache, among others. This could be particularly dangerous for sensitive groups, including children, older adults, and people with respiratory conditions like asthma.
Why it's a problem
Players have already practiced outdoors during pre-match air quality events — the Spanish team held a practice on Thursday in New Jersey. 'These are high-level athletes who are moving a large quantity of air through their lungs,' said Dr. Courtney Howard, an emergency physician and officer with the Global Climate and Health Alliance to the Associated Press. 'They shouldn't be practicing outdoors if air quality levels are in ranges that are hazardous for wildfire-related air pollution.'
FIFA doesn't have a plan
FIFA, the governing body of soccer, doesn't seem to have any contingency plan in place for wildfire smoke. Neither FIFA nor New York health officials immediately responded to Grist's request for comment. In a previous statement to Grist, FIFA detailed extensive protocols related to extreme heat, including mandatory water breaks for players, but made no mention of air quality.
Why FIFA should have a plan
'Climate-related risks,' the organization wrote in a previous statement, 'are assessed as part of overall tournament planning and managed in close coordination with host cities, stadium authorities, and national agencies.'
Other leagues have plans
Unlike FIFA, several other leagues implement standardized adjustments triggered by air quality alerts. According to the policy of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), for example, a women's soccer game at Citi Field in New York on Thursday had additional hydration breaks for safety. The NWSL policy adds hydration breaks when the air quality index is 101 ('unhealthy for sensitive groups') and cancels or postpones games when the AQI reaches 200 ('very unhealthy'). Major League Baseball (MLB) rescheduled a game this week in Philadelphia and Major League Soccer (MLS) canceled a game in Chicago due to smoke.
Long-term consequences
The World Cup is in its fifth and final week, and despite games taking place in several fire-prone regions, FIFA so far doesn't seem to have a contingency plan. They may get away with it again this weekend, says Nicholas Watanabe, a sports and entertainment management professor at the University of South Carolina, but that doesn't justify not being prepared.
What are the short-term consequences
'FIFA seems unprepared for these fires,' Watanabe said. 'At the same time, it seems like the worst of the pollution will dissipate before the World Cup final, so FIFA will dodge a bullet and probably go ahead with the match.'
Consequences for athletes
Some, however, question whether enough is being done, both by FIFA and other outdoor sports leagues facing these and other climate threats. FIFA has already been criticized for its policies regarding extreme heat. 'If we need a hydration break every 15 minutes, then we shouldn't be playing the game,' said Trinity Rodman, who played in a smoke-affected NWSL game in New York.
Consequences for the environment
A professional cyclist recently questioned whether the Tour de France should be held in the summer, given that the current edition of the iconic event was affected by fires, smoke, and extreme heat. 'I would change the whole calendar,' said yellow jersey winner Tadej Pogačar just over a month ago. 'It's not something I can do.'
Consequences for the future
The ability to make changes usually rests with a sport's governing body, rather than athletes, and Watanabe thinks climate issues should be taken more seriously. Even if the World Cup final is spared from any impact, he said this alarm should serve as a reminder.
Long-term consequences
'I hope this is a wake-up call for FIFA and for all other sports leagues and competitions around the world about the need for regulations and a comprehensive plan to deal with climate risks,' Watanabe said.