FIFA Doesn’t Have a Plan to Deal With Climate Change

Wildfire smoke drifting from Canada has raised health concerns ahead of Sunday's World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, held at an open-air stadium just outside New York City, and FIFA appears to have no formal plan in place to protect players or fans from poor air quality. This matters because the smoke could expose thousands of people, including elite athletes exerting themselves outdoors, to hazardous pollution, and highlights a gap in FIFA's climate contingency planning compared with other sports leagues.

Air quality near the stadium was rated "unhealthy" on Friday morning, with New York state issuing alerts advising people to avoid spending time outdoors, though conditions are forecast to improve to "moderate" by kick-off. Unlike FIFA, other US leagues have clear protocols: the NWSL adds hydration breaks at an air quality index of 101 and cancels games above 200, while MLB rescheduled a game in Philadelphia and MLS cancelled one in Chicago this week due to smoke. FIFA has detailed heat-related measures such as mandatory water breaks but has not addressed air quality, saying only that "climate-related risks are assessed" alongside host cities and agencies; experts, including a University of South Carolina sports management professor, say the organisation appears unprepared even though it may avoid disruption this time.