2026 World Cup final: Clear skies in New Jersey after storms clear Canadian wildfire smoke

Published Jul 19, 03:19 PM UTC

The Athletic reports that the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will have clear and mostly sunny skies after storms cleared Canadian wildfire smoke. The match kicks off at 3pm local time with temperatures near 82F (28C), northwesterly winds at 5-15 mph, and comfortable humidity. The article notes that the tournament has been the warmest since the 1994 U.S. World Cup, with extreme heat and humidity affecting play and thunderstorms causing logistical challenges. A thunderstorm protocol suspends matches if lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius, with a 30-minute countdown that resets on further strikes. The France vs. Iraq game on June 22 was the first delayed by storms, stopping for over two hours. The forecast is provided by Aaron Mentkowski, chief meteorologist at WKBW-TV Buffalo.