FIFA Has No Plan for World Cup Smoke Threat
Get the Energy newsletter
Daily energy & climate — solar, EVs, oil, the policy fights and tech bets shaping the transition. Free.
- FIFA has no contingency plan for wildfire smoke ahead of the World Cup final, despite air quality near the stadium reaching unhealthy levels, exposing players and fans to respiratory risks.
- New York City officials issued air quality alerts this week, with the index climbing to 'very unhealthy' levels, prompting warnings for residents to avoid outdoor exposure.
- Spanish national team practiced outdoors in New Jersey on Thursday amid poor air quality, drawing concern from health experts about athletes inhaling polluted air during intense physical activity.
- National Women’s Soccer League implemented additional hydration breaks for a game in New York at AQI 101 and has clear protocols for smoke, unlike FIFA, which only has formal procedures for extreme heat.
- Major League Baseball rescheduled a game in Philadelphia and Major League Soccer canceled a match in Chicago this week due to wildfire smoke, setting precedents FIFA has not followed.
- Dr. Courtney Howard warned that high-level athletes should not practice outside when wildfire-related air pollution reaches hazardous levels, citing increased health risks from deep breathing during exertion.
- Nicholas Watanabe stated that while the worst smoke may clear before Sunday’s final, FIFA’s lack of preparation for climate-related risks represents a systemic failure across major sports governance.
Why it matters: FIFA’s absence of air quality protocols puts players and fans at health risk while other leagues take concrete action, highlighting a regulatory gap in global sports governance as climate events increasingly disrupt major tournaments. The contrast with NWSL, MLB, and MLS policies makes FIFA’s inaction more glaring.
