Thick wildfire smoke has blanketed New York City, prompting air quality warnings and fears over the upcoming World Cup final, with officials urging residents to stay indoors. Health experts have compared the pollution levels to smoking around ten cigarettes a day, raising concerns for both locals and the influx of visitors expected for the football tournament.

Authorities have issued air quality alerts as haze from wildfires drifts into the city, reducing visibility and posing risks to vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions. The comparison to heavy cigarette consumption underscores the severity of the pollution, and there is particular concern about the potential impact on outdoor events tied to the World Cup final, should conditions fail to improve in time.