Weather chaos in New York: FIFA President Infantino misses third-place match

Air quality in New York: From smoke to rain

The weather situation in the New York area had already been tense for days. Smoke from wildfires in Canada had hovered over the greater New York area during the week, significantly worsening air quality. On Saturday, authorities classified the air around the metropolis as "unhealthy for sensitive groups," particularly for children and the elderly.

With the onset of severe weather, however, the previously poor air quality improved. The weather system of thunderstorms, heavy rain, and falling temperatures had reduced the smog levels, according to reports. For Sunday, meteorologists forecast sunny weather with temperatures around 27 degrees Celsius – fitting for the final.

Impact on teams and fans

The effects of the severe weather were far-reaching in the New York region. Numerous flights to New York were canceled due to the adverse weather conditions. The Argentine national team, led by superstar Lionel Messi, was also only able to begin its final training session before the final with a delay. Spain canceled its final training session on Saturday entirely because of the thunderstorm.

On social media, fans expressed concern that they might miss the final due to the weather. Many supporters planning to travel to the region for Sunday evening were worried about their flight connections. Infantino himself had been in New York on Friday and, among other things, attended a joint appearance with US President Donald Trump at a FIFA reception.

On Friday, Infantino had attended a FIFA reception together with US President Donald Trump in New York. The images showed the FIFA chief alongside the US president while preparations for the big final were underway. The move from New York to Miami was then no longer possible.

Outlook on the final

The third-place match took place despite Infantino's absence: England defeated France 6:4. The FIFA president followed the encounter remotely. How the world federation intends to coordinate further travel around the final remained unclear initially.

Images from East Rutherford on Saturday showed empty stands and preparation crews working on the final details for the championship match despite the rain and thunderstorm. Organizers are expecting a full house on Sunday, as better weather is forecast. Numerous high-ranking guests from politics and sports are also expected to attend the final.