Canada wildfire smoke blankets New York, Chicago and Detroit days before World Cup final

MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Friday, July 17th 2026 - 09:47 UTC

In New York, the Emergency Management Office urged people to avoid outdoor activity, while city workers asked passersby to leave the parks

A dense cloud of smoke from the hundreds of wildfires burning in Canada covered much of the US northeast and southern Canada on Thursday, sharply worsening air quality in cities such as New York, Chicago, Detroit, and Toronto. Health authorities advised residents to stay indoors, three days before New Jersey's MetLife Stadium hosts the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.

Around 858 wildfires remained active in Canada, most in the province of Ontario, according to the national wildfire information system. In the United States, poor-air-quality alerts extended across 18 states. In New York, the Emergency Management Office urged people to avoid outdoor activity, while city workers asked passersby to leave the parks. The city was bathed in an orange tone and a burning smell, and many pedestrians walked wearing masks.