U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra says if smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to blanket New Jersey ahead of the World Cup final on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump will not hesitate to ask the game be postponed.
“If the pollution is so bad that it’s dangerous to the players or it’s dangerous to the fans, the first person to say don’t hold the game will be the President of the United States,” Hoekstra told Global News in an exclusive interview.
Hoekstra said conversations with FIFA were currently taking place about the air quality ahead of the final between Spain and Argentina.
“We’re not going to jeopardize the health and well-being of the players, or from people around the world, by setting a game that is in unsafe conditions,” said Hoekstra.
The final is set for Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium, an open-air venue in East Rutherford, N.J., where air quality reached “unhealthy for everyone” levels on Friday, according to the U.S. Air Quality Index.
Trump is expected to attend the final and hand out the FIFA World Cup trophy to the winners of the match.
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Smoke from Canadian wildfires has blanketed large parts of the United States, estimated to be impacting over 100 million Americans, leading to threats of additional tariffs on Canada from the U.S. president.
Air quality was enough of a concern on Thursday night that MLS postponed the Chicago Fire-Vancouver Whitecaps soccer match scheduled to be played at Soldier Field in Chicago. The MLB also had at least one baseball game postponed and others moved due to the dangerous air quality.
“You can sense the atmosphere a little and you can see there’s smoke in the air,” said Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino on Friday, a day after his team trained outside in hazardous conditions ahead of the World Cup final.
“But for a game that is as important as a World Cup final, you have to be able to shut out external factors as much as possible.”
The predicted air quality for the weekend outside New York is “not extreme by any measure. Also not optimal,” said Christopher Carlsten, the head of the Respiratory Medicine Division at the University of British Columbia.
“On Sunday, what’s predicted in the current models, again, subject to change, is pollution levels of 10 to 20 micrograms per cubic metre. And just to put it in perspective, the recommended for overall health in the World Health Organization is closer to five.”
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Lots of TDS showing here. Get help people. Your obsessed!
tell dump to set up some fans to blow the smoke away
I would just say just move it to Vancouver, we don’t have smoke yet. But Infantino is in bed with Rumpy so that won’t happen.
Great. Move it to Toronto or Vancouver.
Any decent leader of a country would not be issuing threats but instead would be asking how his country could help a situation. Alas….this not the situation here.☹️
This is where the Epstein coverup has led us; your Dotard is using smoke as an excuse to disract from his crimes.
Stocks are benefiting from this “natural” disaster. Buy the dip and sell the peak, as Warren Buffet says.
DJT does not have the authority over the World Cup (I think)! Why not concentrate on the mess you have made of the world!
I hope iran comes thru on their threat.
I hope iran pulls through with their threat
Get lost you narcissistic tools!
Why did FIFA choose the MetLife stadium for the World Cup 2026 when it doesn’t have a roof/retractable roof? Surely, people who can apply logic realize that a stadium without a roof risks the postponement of the game, since certain weather conditions can cause the delay or postponement of the game. Did they not consider that a large percentage of their ticket holders would likely not be able to attend the game if it wasn’t played on the scheduled day? Refund their tickets and move the game to a venue with a roof!!! Yes, unfortunately, that would mean the majority of ticket holders would have to watch a broadcast of the game; however, the players would be safer (air pollution) and could play on schedule and return to their professional teams as planned.
Forest fires are a natural disaster! That’s unlike the industrial pollution that Canada has been subjected to for several decades.
Trump is so stupid. The world cup is a sham. It was decided before it even started that Argentina would get the cup . I think Trump and Infantino were in cahoots about it. I did not watch the matches except for Canada’s matches and Cape Verde matches. the rest of matches were fixed even the Cape Verde ones but Cape Verde had mor Honor and respect for the game and also Iran proved they were better men because everything was against them, TOTAL CORRUPTION!!!!
Same standard TDS crowd losing it . Canada the next South Africa
WHAT AN IMBECILE…..THIS IS NOT HIS DECISION!!!!! I HEAR THE IDIOT IS ATTENDING THE GAME….MAYBE HE WILL ACTUALLY TURN ORANGE!!!!!
Scumbag Trump has to have his finger in every pie when this is a decision for Fifa. But the head of Fifa Infantino is Trumps buddy so he will do whatever Trump wants. For Fifa to allow Trump to present the world cup to the winners is also a joke. Shame on them.
TRUMP 2028, make Canada great again.
cut off the power and water that Canada sells to the US. This imbecile needs to be put in his place.
What a dumb title. Canadian wild fires. They aren’t Canadian nobody owns them there just forest fires burning in the forest. Canadian Forest Fire for sale, used, cheap. Warning, may contain Canadian smoke.
Move the World Cup to an indoor venue, like BC PLACE in British Colombia in Canada. Problem solved 😌
Dump trump can take a hike.
Don’t his kids have any shame?
Yuk.
Just retire Donald
Instead of spending for war help your people breath by helping with the wildfires..stop complaining and do something about it you big baby
If only Trump cared as much about his own people….
🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔
Dear president tRump: How about we won’t burn our forests on Mondays anymore, so you can hang your laundry on the clothesline that day? In return, you could help with climate change reversal which would slow the forest fires; or send some water bombers to help Canada just as we have done for the USA many times.
I don’t think it matters one way or another. He’s a bully. They can come up here to the west coast and play. No bad fires as of yet. Can you imagine the fit he would have…lol
Canada needs to do better, its pretty obvious the filthy Mexicans they have down there are starting fires!
Would Trump do the same if the wild fires in his own country were causing air quality concerns for the world cup final? I think not. It’s just another excuse for him to impose made up tariffs on my country, that has been nothing but good to his.
He’ll cancel just so he can ceate another tariff on Canada.
Trump hates Canada and it’s people, then again he hates all people.
The sooner Trump’s so called presidency is over the better for all humanity.
Let’s do all we can to get rid of the Villian President.
He’ll postpone it to appease the ones complaining about the smoke and bring more attention to his proposed tariffs on Canada. He doesn’t really care about air quality or he would not oppose clean energy alternatives.
if only there n95 masks that athletes and fans could wear. ps. it would be up to fantino not rump
Oh so what, to h*ll with FIFA and to h*ll with Trump. Won’t make a damned difference to me what that fat c*nt does. Will someone please end this lard bucket and his threats? He doesn’t govern. He threatens and amuses himself. Go ahead Donny boy, cancel FIFA, most of the known world already wants you dead. This will solidify it. Hopefully FIFA and its mafia connections will do the deed.
How many water bombers does Canada have in action putting out fires?
Did we get any new ones in recent years?
Canada must counter-sue the U.S. for decades of release of man-made air pollutants, include smoke and acid gassed that has caused pre,-mature deaths, adversely affected water quality, diminished crop production, and wiped out fish stocks!
Poo sies!
Congratulations! Mr Trump, on handing out the BiG Waste of Money Trophy in sports! 1.1BILLION Spent in Canada on security. For 7 Games. Take yer lil ball and Go Kick Rocks!
Maybe global news can ask a few tough questions instead of always toadying up to the ambassador.
Dilly Dally Willy Nilly Flippy Floppy yankie doddle dandy
Chilli Willy Con Carny ma name with no brain
Hi my name is Carny, what yo name?
Which is fine, considering the liberal government probably started these ones, like they’ve done over the past few years…because “CLIMATE CHANGE” doncha know.
Before anyone calls Canada arrogant, ignorant and insecure may want to look at their own countries situation. We are respected, the US?
The only person that hands the word cup trophy should be the FIFA president. No player should accept it from any other person. Specially trump!!!!! I am a Canadian futballer that respects the game and tradition is important.
usa is great soccer god of world mostly e u european europa misery we will see after shabas
sin will do this satan is god of pollution air quality smoke smog his duty …dishonoured..
Anonymous is too scared to even leave a real name. You lose.
I guess the usa fires don’t smell like smoke?? ROFL
He should look at ALL the fires going on your side, you fn dummy
Is gonna take Trump to hopefully set this government straight
Your whole comment is what the world thinks of the USA
The only thing Canada is competent at is failing and humiliating itself. What a sad, insecure, pathetic country that is strangely very arrogant.