New York Mayor's warning ahead of World Cup final

A health alert has been issued in the New York area ahead of the World Cup final. New York Mayor Zohrab Mamdani has urged people not to be outside unnecessarily as smoke from wildfires in Canada has caused air quality to reach hazardous levels. The issue has naturally come to the fore as the final venue, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, is close to New York.

Argentina and Spain will face off in the World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday. But the excitement of the game has been overshadowed by the issue of air pollution on the eve of the match. The air quality in and around New York has become so bad that local authorities have advised against spending long periods outdoors.

Mayor Mamdani said at the press conference, "The smoke from the wildfires in Canada is now spreading over our city. The current situation is unhealthy for everyone. Not just for those with asthma or heart disease, but healthy people can also feel its effects."

Highlighting the seriousness of the situation, he added, "Air quality has reached a level that is risky for every New Yorker. If you have plans to go for a run today, save it for tomorrow."

Meanwhile, in an interview with the New York Post, pollution expert Michael Petroni said, "Under current conditions, breathing New York air is as harmful as smoking about 10 cigarettes." For this reason, the local administration has advised residents to stay indoors as much as possible and wear masks when going out if necessary.

The smoke from the wildfires is not limited to New York. Air quality has deteriorated in large areas of the northern United States. In the meantime, a friendly match between the Chicago Fire and the Vancouver Whitecaps has been postponed due to poor air quality in Chicago. Such conditions have also put organizers on extra alert ahead of the World Cup final.

It is worth noting that MetLife Stadium is located in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This stadium, one of the largest in the world, has a capacity of 82,500. Since the World Cup final is being held at this venue, the number of people could exceed 100,000. However, in the meantime, New York's air pollution is raising concerns, which could put the health of spectators at risk.