FIFA has confirmed that the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina will kick off as scheduled at 8pm UK time on Sunday, despite severe thunderstorms and air quality concerns that disrupted both teams' preparations. The match is set to take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Thunderstorms Disrupt Final Preparations
On Saturday, thunderstorms forced both finalists to alter their final training sessions. Spain's scheduled outdoor session at the Melanie Lane Training Ground in New Jersey was suspended under US storm safety protocols after lightning moved into the area. The Spanish Football Federation stated: "The Spanish national team's training session on the pitches at the Melanie Lane Training Ground in New Jersey has been suspended in accordance with the US storm safety protocol. The players are currently taking part in a warm-up session indoors."
Argentina also had to adapt, with Lionel Scaloni's side beginning their training in Morristown, New Jersey, 45 minutes later than planned due to the adverse weather.
Air Quality and Health Concerns
The thunderstorms are the latest concern after experts warned earlier this week that high temperatures combined with poor air quality from Canadian wildfires could create dangerous conditions for players and spectators. Pulmonologist Dr Vin Gupta told the Daily Mail: "It not only is going to be terrible, terrible air quality. It's hot, and that can cause an extreme amount of stress on the heart. It's going to be critical to maintain core body temperatures as low as possible."
Despite these warnings, FIFA has maintained there are no plans to delay or relocate the match. A White House official also indicated via Bloomberg that there are no formal discussions over altering the fixture.
Final Showdown
Spain reached the final after a convincing 2-0 victory over France, while Argentina booked their place by beating England 2-1 courtesy of Lautaro Martinez's dramatic stoppage-time winner. Barring any further significant deterioration in conditions, the two sides will meet as planned at 8pm UK time on Sunday for the 2026 World Cup trophy.
