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Argentina and Spain ready for World Cup final as Canadian wildfire smoke hits New Jersey
Argentina and Spain will contest the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday. Both teams held their penultimate training sessions on Friday under a haze of smoke drifting south from Canadian forest fires in Ontario. Air‑quality monitors in nearby New Jersey towns recorded levels ranging from "unhealthy" to "very unhealthy," prompting officials to advise residents to limit outdoor exposure. Organisers said a National Weather Service representative was working with FIFA to monitor conditions.
The event attracted political attention: U.S. President Donald Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed they would attend, joining a crowd of over 80,000. Ticket prices on the secondary market reached record highs, with an average of $11,327 and individual seats selling for up to $28,479. No German Football Association officials were present at the final.
Slavko Vinčić of Slovenia was appointed referee for the match. Players and coaches expressed confidence, with Spain’s Rodri speaking of a physical battle and Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni noting the team’s focus on enjoying the game. The final follows Argentina’s bid to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to win back‑to‑back World Cups, while Spain seeks its second title.