Preparation for the World Cup final is difficult: Spain is training in

According to Foxsports.

Context

The Spanish national team is preparing for the World Cup final, and their preparation in smoke conditions calls into question the team's physical fitness. It is important that coaches and medical staff monitor the players' condition, especially given the upcoming tense match against Argentina.

Why is this important

Spain's training in smoky conditions raises questions about the health of players ahead of an important match at FIFA World Cup 2026. Poor air quality can negatively affect the team's fitness and concentration, which is critical in the final. Spain must be in optimal shape to compete with Argentina for the World Cup title.

Key takeaways

• Preparations for the World Cup final are difficult: Spain is training in.
• Spanish footballers trained in dangerous conditions caused by smoke from forest fires, raising concerns about air quality and the safety of athletes.
• World Cup Final Preparations Clouded As Spain Practices Through New Jersey Smoke | FOX Sports.

The Spanish national team trained Thursday in northern New Jersey ahead of the World Cup final despite difficult conditions. Sunlight was obscured by smoke caused by wildfires in Canada and air quality was deemed hazardous. The training took place in Est Hanver and the media could only watch the first 15 minutes of the scheduled hour-long session, which began at 11:00 am ET.

Argentina, meanwhile, remained in Atlanta, where they trained less than 24 hours after defeating England, which sent them to the final of the tournament for the second time in a row. Marietta, Georgia, is located far enough south to avoid exposure to smoke moving southeast from northern Ontario. Authorities warned people to stay home or wear masks outside as air quality reached levels considered unhealthy, meaning it is unsafe for everyone, regardless of health status.

Experts have expressed concern about exercising outdoors. "These high-level athletes are breathing a lot of air during every practice and every match, and they really shouldn't be training outside if the air quality is at dangerous levels due to pollution associated with wildfires," said Dr. Courtney Howard, an emergency physician and spokesperson for the Global Alliance on Climate and Health. “At this time, it is better to move the training indoors.It is possible to wear an N95 type mask, but ensuring that the mask fits well for everyone is not easy. I would find an air-conditioned room with clean air."

Inquiries sent to FIFA and the Spanish Football Association about whether this option was being considered were not immediately responded to. The smoke is expected to clear before the final game on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with kickoff at 3 p.m. Air quality in Est Hanver was rated "harmful" on Thursday morning but improved to "harmful for sensitive groups" by mid-afternoon, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Air Now monitoring system.

Particle pollution in New Jersey on Thursday was more than seven times the World Health Organization standard. The forecast calls for improvement to "moderate" levels by Sunday. Smoke from wildfires, which are consuming more and more of North America as the climate warms, negatively impacts virtually every body system, killing tens of thousands of people each year, multiple medical studies show. Smoke can cause inflammation in different parts of the body, often attacking a person's weak points, which leads to various consequences for the immune system trying to cope with the irritant."Being in smoke is not good for anyone, especially during physical activity," said Harvard School of Public Health researcher Mary Johnson. "You're breathing in more air, which increases your exposure to pollutants, and even healthy people experience negative effects from smoke exposure at some point. So even though these are healthy young people, it's not advisable to exercise in these conditions." Scientists have counted at least 1,000 toxins in wildfire smoke, according to Colorado State University environmental toxicologist Luke Montrose. "If I gave you a list, you would recognize some of them as very harmful, often associated with burning diesel fuel or smoking cigarettes, such as formaldehyde or volatile organic compounds," Montrose added. "The smoke itself can be dangerous."

Reporting by The Associated Press.

What happens next

The Spanish national team will likely be forced to adapt their training plans depending on air conditions. It is possible that training will be moved indoors to minimize the risks to the health of the players. It is important that the team is able to recover and prepare for the 2026 World Cup final in the best conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to the Spanish team before the World Cup final?

The Spanish national team trained in conditions of smoke in New Jersey caused by forest fires in Canada.

Who confirmed the dangerous conditions for training?

Experts including Dr. Courtney Howard have raised concerns about air quality and its impact on athletes' health.

Why does Spain conduct training in such conditions?

The training was scheduled ahead of the World Cup final, despite dangerous conditions due to smoke.

What has changed in the training process of the Spanish team?

The training took place outdoors, although experts recommended indoor training due to poor air quality.

Where did the Spanish national team train?

Training took place in East Hanver, New Jersey.

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