Wildfire Smoke to Clear Northeast Before World Cup Final on July 16

Wildfires in Ontario, Canada, have caused significant haze across the U.S., prompting health warnings. However, thunderstorms are expected to clear much of the wildfire smoke from the Northeast before the World Cup final on July 16, 2026, between Spain and Argentina. Meteorologist Tyler Roys noted that while some lingering smoke could remain, air quality is expected to improve from 'unhealthy' to 'moderate' in East Rutherford on Sunday. This improvement means little to no health risk for the general public, which is crucial for fans attending the match at MetLife Stadium.