The upper stands of MetLife Stadium filled with smoke that had nothing to do with the festive atmosphere. 🌫️ Fans began recording how that gray layer covered the venue and reduced visibility, creating a scene that looked nothing like what everyone expected for the final.
Within minutes, the videos went viral. Users quickly connected the dots: the wildfires hitting different parts of Canada have been affecting air quality in the northeastern United States for weeks, and that day the phenomenon reached all the way to the stadium stands.
The match was played anyway, but the image was etched into the memory of thousands. Not even the biggest sporting event on the planet could turn a blind eye to what is happening on the horizon. ⚽