FIFA's President Gianni Infantino (C) arrives to attend a friendly football match between Iran and Costa Rica, in Antalya, southern Turkey, on March 31, 2026. FIFA's president told AFP that Iran "will be at the World Cup" despite the Middle East war. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP)
July 17, 2026
World Cup organisers ‘monitoring closely’ wildfire smoke ahead of final
NEW YORK, United States (AFP)—World Cup organisers said Friday they were “monitoring closely” the smoke gripping swaths of the United States ahead of the tournament’s weekend final in New Jersey which has been affected by dangerously unhealthy air.
“There’s been discussion about it, and we have somebody with the National Weather Service that sits in FIFA headquarters there, so we’re monitoring closely,” Andrew Giuliani, White House World Cup task force executive director, told a briefing.
