Wildfire smoke, transport chaos and Trump threaten New York's World Cup final

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Wildfires, transport issues and the appearance of the president could overshadow the final for a city that has embraced the tournament

The thick smoke that has engulfed New York and much of the eastern seaboard over the last few days has drawn wry smiles in Dallas and Los Angeles, where locals will watch on with a sense of schadenfreude when the World Cup final takes place in the New York New Jersey Stadium (usually known as the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey) tomorrow.

The Dallas and Los Angeles stadiums, which were passed over when Fifa awarded the final in February 2024, are more impressive venues without the same climatic risks as New York, which was chosen because of its global appeal and favourable timezone for European television audiences.

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