World Cup final set for 3 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium amid smoke‑delay concerns

The 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain will kick off at 3 p.m. ET (8 p.m. BST) on 19 July at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. To meet FIFA’s field‑size rules, 1,740 seats were removed from the lower bowl, reducing capacity to 80,663 and a natural‑grass pitch was installed. Wildfire smoke drifting from Canada has triggered a health‑danger warning for the New York‑New Jersey area, prompting FIFA president Gianni Infantino to discuss possible postponement with U.S. officials. While officials expect conditions to improve, a delay remains a 5‑10 % possibility, affecting both spectators and players. The match will also feature a halftime show with global music stars.