Spain and Argentina prepared to do battle in the World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday as organisers said they were keeping a close eye on smoke from wildfires in Canada.
Lionel Messi's Argentina are bidding to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups, while Spain are trying to win a second title after their maiden victory in 2010.
Organisers said they were "monitoring closely" the smoke that has choked skies over large areas of the United States.
"There's been discussion about it, and we have somebody with the National Weather Service that sits in FIFA headquarters there, so we're monitoring closely," Andrew Giuliani, White House World Cup task force executive director, told a briefing.
US President Donald Trump will be among a crowd of over 80,000 spectators as the largest World Cup in history reaches its climax in the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
It will be the only game of the tournament that Trump will have attended.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she would also attend the final after an invitation from the US president.
Trump on Friday hailed the World Cup, also played in Mexico and Canada, as "the most successful sporting event perhaps in the history of the world" as he held a reception in New York with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino.
Physical battle?
Spain captain Rodri said he was bracing for a "physical" battle with Argentina and would aim to ignore any possible "provocations."
Rodri, the 2024 Ballon D'Or winner, said he expected the final to be unlike any other game the European champions had faced.
"I think Sunday's match will be quite different," the Manchester City star told reporters.
"It will be a more physical one, and we must be prepared. But I believe that if we are known for something in this national team, it is that we know how to play different games based on the moment.
"So we can adapt to having to defend, counter-attacking, to attacking. We are a very complete team, and that is why we are here."
When asked if he expected Argentina to resort to "provocative" tactics, Rodri replied: "Well, that's a part of football."
'Legend' Messi
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni on Thursday urged fans to make the most of seeing Messi lead out his team in another World Cup final at the age of 39.
"He has made history. He is a legend," Scaloni said of the former Barcelona player, who helped Argentina to win the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 and back-to-back Copa América titles in the last five years.
Messi's international career has enjoyed a remarkable late renaissance – a decade ago he briefly retired from the Argentina team at the age of 29 after a Copa América final loss to Chile, his fourth defeat in a final for his country.
Messi and Scaloni hugged on the pitch at full-time after Wednesday's 2-1 semi-final win over England, with the Argentine captain calling that victory "pure history."
"It fills me with pride because he is the best player in the history of football," Scaloni said of Messi, who has scored eight goals at this World Cup, which is his sixth, and is the tournament's all-time top scorer with 21.
"To have been able to get to a final in the way that he has in this moment, at the age of 39, I think it is incredible.
"That is why I said we should enjoy having him, because look at what happened with Diego [Maradona] and how we ended up missing him.
"We still have Leo and we should appreciate that. He is the historic figure and the legend, as are all these players who have given us these marvellous years."
Golden era?
Argentina had gone 28 years without winning a major international title before lifting the Copa América in 2021 to spark this current golden era.
"They have done things that a few years ago were unthinkable. It was not easy to get here and to compete at this level over so many years," he said ahead of Sunday's final at the MetLife Stadium just outside New York City.
"We might win and I hope we do but in any case the journey to get this far has been incredible."
Scaloni said he could not answer whether the game would definitely be Messi's last at a World Cup, but it seems highly unlikely he will continue until the next one in 2030.
Argentina will have to beat the reigning European champions if they are to become the first nation in 64 years to win back-to-back World Cups.
"They are a great team. Everything worries me about them," Scaloni said.
– TIMES/AFP
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