The air pollution caused by wildfires in Canada, which is affecting the northeastern United States, has led Donald Trump to threaten the neighboring country with new tariffs. The situation has raised concerns about the quality of life for the affected populations, especially with the upcoming World Cup 2026 final between Spain and Argentina, which will take place in New Jersey/New York at an open-air stadium. Cities like Detroit, Chicago, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, and Washington have also been affected, leading to the postponement of several sporting events, including in Toronto, Canada. The U.S. president accused Canada of being responsible for the smoke that has severely deteriorated air quality and is impacting the World Cup final. In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump described the situation as “totally unacceptable.” “The United States is being unnecessarily invaded by dirty, polluted, and health-hazardous air, the quality of which poses a danger,” the president stated, announcing that he would contact Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on Canadian products due to “deliberate negligence,” accusing Canada of failing to carry out “basic forest maintenance and debris removal,” measures that help prevent wildfires. In response, Canadian Minister of Emergency Management Eleanor Olszewski assured that the two countries are “in constant contact,” emphasizing the “long history of cooperation in combating wildfires.” Air quality has significantly deteriorated in several American cities. On Friday, Detroit topped the list of the most polluted cities in the world, according to the IQAir website, closely followed by Washington and Chicago. Local authorities recommend avoiding outdoor activities or wearing masks. The situation is concerning for the organizers of the World Cup final, which will be held in an open-air stadium in New Jersey. Andrew Giuliani, the White House official responsible for organizing the event, stated that the situation is being “monitored closely.” The official security app for fans also advises staying indoors or wearing masks. According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), there were 950 active wildfires in the country on Saturday, many of them out of control, particularly in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The dense smoke has already led to air quality alerts in both countries. In states closest to the wildfires, such as Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, air quality has been rated as “hazardous,” prompting residents to wear masks. In New York, free masks have been distributed at train stations and libraries.
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