Mother Nature may have delivered one final assist before the biggest match in soccer.
After days of wildfire smoke from Canada cast a gray haze over northern New Jersey, Saturday’s steady rain and rolling thunderstorms arrived with a purpose beyond just disrupting Spain’s and Argentina’s training sessions.
The steady downpour likely scrubbed a significant amount of smoke and fine particulate matter from the atmosphere, hopefully setting the stage for a favorable forecast during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium.
Earlier in the week, Spain trained under skies so smoky that players admitted they could both see and smell the haze, with breathing noticeably more difficult.
Argentina arrived Friday with improved, though still slightly smoky conditions.
Both teams had their preparations interrupted Saturday by lightning and heavy rain.
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Forecasters now expect sunshine, temperatures in the mid-80s and lower humidity by the 3 p.m. Eastern kickoff, with no significant weather delays anticipated.
Air quality is also expected to improve, although officials continue to monitor lingering wildfire smoke that could drift back into the region depending on ever-changing wind patterns.
This is favorable news for fans and players expected to run more than 7 miles over 90 relentless minutes in the final.
Cleaner air, cooler temperatures and less smoke mean easier breathing, faster recovery, and one fewer obstacle to worry about.
