Wildfire smoke engulfs New York sparking World Cup final fears with residents told to stay indoors and pollution compared to 'smoking ten cigarettes a day'

By ELIANA SILVER, SENIOR FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 15:48, 17 July 2026 | Updated: 15:51, 17 July 2026 Toxic smoke from Canadian wildfires has engulfed New York City, triggering public health warnings and likening the air quality to smoking 10 cigarettes a day ahead of Sunday's World Cup Final. Residents have been urged to stay indoors and avoid outdoor exercise as strong winds coupled with intense heat pushed the smoke into the atmosphere.  Wildfire smoke is more toxic than polluted air and can linger for weeks. Fires can burn cars and buildings, meaning their smoke contains traces of chemicals, metals, plastics and synthetic materials. New York City resembled a Gotham nightmare on Thursday, as an intense heat gripped residents, smoke created a thick haze and air quality levels reached 'very unhealthy levels.' Photos of New Yorkers revealed an orange haze as a backdrop of morning commuters and community basketball players. Some were even seen wearing N95 masks as officials warned that even those who do not have respiratory issues may be at risk of adverse health effects. 'It's reasonable to say you're smoking 10 cigarettes today by breathing the air in New York City,' Michael Petroni, a pollution expert, told the New York Post. 'The rule of thumb is about 20 AQI (Air Quality Index) points for a whole day equals one cigarette. They get into your bloodstream because they're so small and they wreak havoc on your immune system. Over time, that adds up and it increases your likelihood of cancer, of heart disease.'  The Bronx was overtaken by an eerie orange haze. Smoke from wildfires is more dangerous than polluted air due to the dangerous materials it carries  The Manhattan skyline is seen during an air quality health advisory due to wildfire smoke A person wearing a mask walks past the Empire State Building during an air quality health advisory New Yorkers were seen in N95 masks during their commutes during the health advisory  According to New York's Department of Environmental Conservation, the AQI has been measured in the 151-200 range, which is much higher than the 0-50 mark, which would be considered 'good' The World Cup final's host venue MetLife Stadium, an open-air facility in New Jersey, is, however, not in imminent danger of a postponement.  Air quality is projected to steadily improve heading into the weekend. Additionally, forecasted weekend rain is anticipated to effectively clear the lingering wildfire smoke before kickoff. A mesmerising graphic shared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration revealed the thick grey haze travelling across the eastern US on Wednesday afternoon. The smoke culminated in a daunting circle above eastern Canada and parts of the American Northeast. Detroit was also engulfed in smoke, as the city ranked among the cities with the worst air quality in the world, alongside Minneapolis and Chicago. The city had a US Air Quality Index (AQI) of 566, making it the most polluted major city in the world at the time of the reading. Locals reported it smelling like 'a bonfire that you can't escape,' saying the smoke is seeping into buildings. Minneapolis ranked second with an AQI of 289, followed by Chicago at 259. Readings between 201 and 300 are classified as 'very unhealthy,' with health officials warning that all residents could experience adverse effects from prolonged exposure. Michigan is under a statewide air quality alert after plumes spread through the Upper Peninsula and continued sinking south toward the Indiana border. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said dense smoke had already produced hourly readings that surpassed previous records in the Twin Cities, while trace amounts of ash had been observed. In northern Illinois, the state Environmental Protection Agency declared a red air pollution action day for Rockford and all six Chicago-area forecast zones. 'It's basically a river of smoke pouring into the Midwest right now,' Emily Fischer, an atmospheric chemist and ​professor at Colorado State University, told Reuters. Pennsylvania was also placed under a statewide Code Red alert, unhealthy for everyone, on Thursday as smoke from Ontario and Minnesota moved into the state from north to south. New York City resembled a Gotham nightmare on Thursday, as an intense heat gripped residents Multiple American cities, including New York, faced extremely poor air quality ratings on Thursday  Argentina is set to play Spain in the World Cup Final on Sunday in New Jersey (Pictured: Lionel Messi of Argentina) Air quality is projected to steadily improve heading into the weekend for the World Cup Final (Pictured: Lamine Yamal of Spain)  Clouds of hot, rising smoke can be seen on satellite imagery, looming over Canada and the Great Lakes region on Tuesday. The dangerous smoke and disastrous flames have continued to ravage parts of Canada. Firefighters are working overtime to starve the flames. Randy Schroeder, a fire chief in the western province of Alberta, told the New York Times that the wildfires, coupled with the intense heatwave, were 'relentless.' 'The fires grow and last a lot longer than they would have normally done in the same fuel, in the same period of time, years ago,' he added.