Latest news with #WorldCup2026
Al Arabiya
9 minutes ago
- Climate
- Al Arabiya
With the World Cup about a year away, plans for wildfire smoke risks remain unclear
The 2026 World Cup being hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States is less than a year away, and FIFA's protocols for matches affected by wildfire smoke remain unclear. The 48-team World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Canada is hosting 13 matches–seven in Vancouver and six in Toronto. The day after Toronto's air quality was among the worst in the world, the organizing committee for the World Cup in Canada declined to reveal guidelines for postponement or air quality related contingencies with soccer's international governing body. No policies are posted publicly. The Air Quality Health Index rating for Toronto was over 10, or very high risk, on Monday morning, dropping to a high risk rating of 8 by late afternoon. This year's fire season, according to Canadian government data, is the second-largest on record. Canada's most destructive wildfire season was in 2023, with more than 6,000 fires burning 37 million acres (15 million hectares) of land, according to Natural Resources Canada. Dr. Howard Shapiro, Toronto's associate medical officer of health, said in a statement that Toronto Public Health is actively reviewing the latest evidence and best practices for air-quality issues as the city prepares for the World Cup. 'TPH may provide guidance and recommendations on public health risks, including environmental health concerns such as extreme weather and wildfire smoke,' the statement read. 'This includes contingency planning to support the health and safety of residents, visitors, and participants during the tournament.' Outdoor activities on days when the Air Quality Health Index rises higher than 7 should be rescheduled, said Dr. Andrew Halayko, a professor of physiology and pathophysiology at the University of Manitoba, to protect the most vulnerable, including people who are 65 or older, pregnant, young children, and those with existing health conditions. But others say it's difficult to pinpoint exactly when the air quality reaches a threshold where sporting events should be canceled. 'I personally think that we can't based on good evidence have general statements about what AQHI is unacceptable for a given event. Everything is contextual,' said Dr. Christopher Carlsten, the head of the respiratory medicine division at the University of British Columbia. That context includes the age of the general audience and the forecast of the air quality, and events should be judged on a case-by-case basis, he said. The impact of poor air quality on athletes is a subject of debate. Some experts think athletes can better handle poor air conditions because they are generally young and healthy, making them less likely to sustain long-term health impacts. Michael Brauer, a professor at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Medicine, said that studies show that even low levels of pollution impact cognitive ability–which not only affects performance but also increases the risk of injuries. 'Imagine two players going up for a pass at really high speeds, and if you make one tiny error, that could be a career-threatening injury,' he said. The Canadian Football League doesn't play games when the AQHI surpasses a threshold of seven, according to an agreement with the players. Those games are postponed.
CBC
13 hours ago
- Climate
- CBC
Contingency plans unclear for 2026 World Cup wildfire smoke risks
While some organizations have published clear air quality thresholds or contingency protocols for wildfire smoke, FIFA's plans remain unclear less than a year out from the 2026 World Cup. A day after Toronto's air quality was among the worst in the world, the organizing committee for the World Cup in Canada declined to reveal guidelines for postponement or air-quality-related contingencies with FIFA. No policies are posted publicly. The World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Canada will stage 13 games -- seven in Vancouver and six in Toronto. The Air Quality Health Index rating for Toronto was over 10, or "very high risk," on Monday morning, dropping to a "high risk" rating of 8 by late afternoon. In the CFL, meanwhile, games can't be played when the AQHI surpasses a threshold of seven, according to an agreement between the league and its players. CFL stadiums are also equipped with air-quality sensors to provide real-time readings. The CFL postponed the Saskatchewan Roughriders-Calgary Stampeders game in Regina from Friday night to Saturday afternoon this past weekend due to air quality issues, as wildfires from northern Saskatchewan pushed the AQHI above 10. Many minor soccer associations in Canada also recommend delaying or rescheduling games if the AQHI is 7 or higher. Dr. Andrew Halayko, a professor of physiology and pathophysiology at the University of Manitoba, calls anything above 10 a "no-brainer" for postponing sporting events. He also believes sporting events on days when the AQHI rises higher than 7 should be rescheduled due to health concerns. Halayko adds while people should be able to make their own health decisions, sometimes the general population needs guidance. Waiting for the World Cup 1 month ago With the 2026 World Cup now one year away, CBC Sports' Chris Jones examines it's impact and what it will mean to Canada in this video essay.
Al Jazeera
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
FIFA to launch 2026 World Cup ticketing process in September
FIFA has announced that the process to purchase tickets for the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, the United States, and Canada will launch on September 10, urging fans looking to attend games to formally register their interest on its website. The announcement on Monday came a day after the FIFA Club World Cup concluded in the US, a tournament that the international governing body for football hailed as a 'rousing success'. 'We're looking forward to welcoming the world back to North America, as Canada, Mexico and the United States host what will be the biggest and greatest sporting event ever,' FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement. 'We encourage fans everywhere to get ready to secure their place – these will be the most coveted seats in world sport.' FIFA did not provide details for how the tickets will be released, but it said on September 10, pre-registered fans will be able to 'apply for their first chance to buy tickets'. 'There will be several distinct ticket sales phases from the start of sales on 10 September 2025, through to the final match on Sunday, 19 July 2026,' FIFA said. 'Each phase may differ in purchasing processes, payment methods and ticket products, and full details on each phase will be released in the coming months.' The World Cup will kick off in Mexico City on June 11 next year and conclude in New Jersey on July 19. With the tournament expanded to 48 teams, it will see 104 games, with Canada and Mexico hosting 13 matches each. The rest of the games will take place in the US, including all the fixtures from the quarterfinal onwards. The US had a de facto test run for the big tournament with the Club World Cup that kicked off last month, with mixed results. While the final at MetLife Stadium, which saw Premier League giants Chelsea beat European champions Paris Saint-Germain 3-0, attracted a sold-out crowd of over 81,000 people, some games saw an abysmally low turnout. The searing hot weather also proved to be a challenge for players and fans, especially during midday games. However, many matches drew large crowds and a festive atmosphere, as well as some notable footballing upsets. US President Donald Trump appeared to take a strong interest in the tournament. He hosted Italian club Juventus at the White House when the team was in Washington, DC, for a group stage game last month. He attended the final in New Jersey and joined Chelsea players on stage for the trophy presentation. However, Trump's restrictive immigration policies have sparked concerns about the ability of international fans to visit the US next year. In June, the US president imposed travel bans and restrictions on citizens of 19 countries, including Iran, whose national team has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup. While football is known as the world's game, the sport has been behind American football, baseball and basketball in popularity in the US. Still, football has been steadily gaining interest in the country over the past decade, a trend accelerated by Argentinian great Lionel Messi's move to Inter Miami in 2023. Qatar hosted the last World Cup in 2022, with Argentina lifting the trophy for the third time in their history, cementing the status of Messi as one of the greatest players of all time.
CBS News
16 hours ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Lottery for 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in San Francisco Bay Area announced
FIFA announced Tuesday details of a ticket lottery for the upcoming 2026 World Cup being held in North America, which includes matches being held in the San Francisco Bay Area. Tickets for the tournament, which is set to begin next June, will be released in phases. The first draw application window will open on Wednesday, Sep. 10. "We're looking forward to welcoming the world back to North America, as Canada, Mexico and the United States host what will be the biggest and greatest sporting event ever. We encourage fans everywhere to get ready to secure their place – these will be the most coveted seats in world sport," said FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Ahead of the draw, fans who are interested were urged to visit and to create a FIFA ID. Organizers anticipate 6.5 million people will attend the tournament, which consists of 104 matches featuring 48 teams. Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara will host six matches. Due to FIFA sponsorship rules, the facility is labeled as "San Francisco Bay Area Stadium" in tournament materials. Five of the games at the Santa Clara stadium will be group fixtures, while a sixth game will be a knockout match in the Round of 32. • Match 8 - Group Stage - Saturday, June 13 • Match 20 - Group Stage - Tuesday, June 16 • Match 31 - Group Stage - Friday, June 19 • Match 44 - Group Stage - Monday, June 22 • Match 60 - Group Stage - Thursday, June 25 • Match 81 - Round of 31 - Wednesday, July 1 According to FIFA, the final draw is set to take place in December, with specific schedules and kickoff times to be released "shortly thereafter." The tournament is scheduled to begin June 11, 2026 with a matchup in Mexico City. The World Cup Final will be held at MetLife Stadium (temporarily renamed New York / New Jersey Stadium) on July 19, 2026.
CNA
16 hours ago
- Sport
- CNA
Oman appoint Queiroz as new coach
Oman named former Real Madrid and Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz as their new head coach on Tuesday as they bid to reach the 2026 World Cup. Oman reached the fourth round of Asia's World Cup qualifiers after finishing fourth in Group B in the previous round, ending with a 1-1 draw with Palestine to secure their spot in the next phase. "Queiroz has extensive coaching experience, having led the national teams of Portugal, Iran, Colombia, Egypt, and Qatar. He also served as an assistant coach at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson," the Oman FA said on social media platform X. "The Federation extends its thanks and appreciation to the previous technical staff, led by national coach Rashid Jaber, for their efforts during the past period, wishing them success in their future," the federation added. Oman will be joined by Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates in the fourth round draw, which takes place on July 17.
