Emergency alert issued ahead of FIFA World Cup final in New York

NEW YORK: Authorities issued emergency flood warnings for parts of New York and New Jersey on Saturday, hours before the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, as severe weather threatened to disrupt travel and pre-match preparations.

The championship match between Argentina and Spain is scheduled for Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. However, deteriorating weather conditions have complicated preparations for both teams and raised concerns for fans traveling to the venue.

Officials warned of potentially life-threatening flash flooding and urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel. Emergency alerts sent to mobile phones in parts of New York warned of a flash flood risk through the afternoon and advised people to leave flood-prone areas if instructed by authorities.

The latest weather concerns come after air quality in New York and New Jersey was affected by smoke from hundreds of wildfires burning in Canada. Earlier this week, officials classified air quality in parts of New Jersey as “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

Calls to relocate the World Cup final had already surfaced because of smoky conditions, and the flash flood warnings have added to concerns surrounding the event.

Tournament organizers continue to monitor the weather closely, while both teams have adjusted their preparations ahead of Sunday’s final. No changes to the match schedule had been announced at the time of reporting.