2026 World Cup final weather: 'Dirty rain' to clear smoke, sunny for kickoff

Published Jul 18, 02:00 PM UTC

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The Athletic reports on the weather forecast for the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The tournament has been the hottest in North America since 1994, with extreme heat and thunderstorms affecting play. An Air Quality Alert and Flood Watch are in effect due to wildfire smoke from Canada. 'Dirty rain' on Saturday will help clear smoke through wet deposition, leaving residue on surfaces. Showers will taper off by Sunday morning, with the 3pm ET kickoff expected under mostly sunny skies and a temperature near 83°F (28°C). The article also notes the thunderstorm protocol that delayed a previous match for over two hours.

Source

Soccer - The AthleticWestern

Original headline: World Cup final weather forecast: 'Dirty rain' to improve air quality before Argentina vs Spain

Original language: EN

Part of this Story

Canadian Wildfire Smoke Threatens 2026 World Cup Final Air Quality

See the full Story: all sources and camp coverage

People and interests

Argentina Spain MetLife Stadium New Jersey Canada The Athletic