Spain trained outdoors on Thursday ahead of the FIFA World Cup final despite hazardous air quality caused by smoke drifting from Canadian wildfires, raising concerns among health experts about the safety of high-intensity outdoor practice.
The session took place in East Hanover, New Jersey, where haze from the wildfires significantly reduced visibility and prompted public health warnings across parts of the northeastern United States. The Spanish squad held its scheduled training session beginning at 11 a.m. EDT, although media were permitted to watch only the first 15 minutes of the hour-long practice.
It was not immediately clear how intensive the remainder of the session was, as the team prepared for Sunday’s World Cup final against Argentina in nearby East Rutherford. Argentina, meanwhile, remained in the Atlanta area following its victory over England in the semi-finals. The South American side continued its preparations in Marietta, Georgia, where air quality has not been affected by the smoke because the region lies outside the path of the wildfire plume originating in northern Ontario, Canada.
Smoke from the Canadian wildfires has spread across large parts of the US Midwest and Northeast, prompting authorities to issue health advisories urging residents to stay indoors or wear protective masks when outside. Air quality in several affected areas reached unhealthy to hazardous levels, posing health risks even for people without underlying medical conditions. Health experts questioned the decision to conduct outdoor training under such conditions, particularly for elite athletes engaged in strenuous physical activity.
Dr Courtney Howard, an emergency physician and official with the Global Climate and Health Alliance, said athletes should avoid outdoor exercise when wildfire-related pollution reaches hazardous levels. “These are high-level athletes who are moving a lot of air through their lungs during every practice and every game, and really they shouldn’t be practicing outside if the air quality levels are at hazardous ranges for wildfire-related air pollution,” Howard said. She suggested that training sessions should instead be moved to air-conditioned indoor facilities with clean air rather than relying on protective masks during exercise.
Neither FIFA nor the Royal Spanish Football Federation immediately responded to requests for comment on whether relocating the training session indoors had been considered. Officials have not indicated whether any changes to preparation plans will be made before the final. Meteorological forecasts suggest the smoke is expected to clear well before Sunday’s championship match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, where kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. local time. Organisers have not announced any concerns regarding the final itself, and current projections indicate improved air quality by match day.
The incident highlights the growing impact of extreme environmental events on international sporting competitions. Wildfire smoke has increasingly disrupted outdoor activities across North America in recent years, prompting sporting organisations to consider additional health protocols for athletes and spectators. With air quality expected to improve before the final, both Spain and Argentina are continuing their preparations for the tournament’s showpiece event. However, the hazardous conditions surrounding Spain’s latest training session have renewed discussions about athlete safety and contingency planning when environmental factors pose potential health risks.