Canadian wildfire smoke forces MLB, MLS game rescheduling

Wildfire smoke brings orange skies, dangerous air quality to millions in the U.S.

Canadian wildfire smoke from nearly 900 active fires is creating hazardous air quality and orange skies across the Midwest and Northeast U.S. Fox Weather correspondent Katie Byrne reports live from Cleveland on the extensive smoke impacting major cities like New York, Boston and Washington D.C., with relief expected soon.

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A slow time in sports got even slower Thursday when some games on the schedule were altered due to the air quality in the Northeast and Midwest.

Wildfires in Canada have affected the air quality in those areas to the point residents were urged to stay inside and wear masks if they had to go out.

At least two sporting events were rescheduled because of the air, one MLB game and an MLS match.

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Cyclist wears a mask in smoke-filled Toronto street.

A cyclist wears a mask as smoke from wildfires blankets Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (Laura Proctor/Bloomberg)

Polish soccer star Robert Lewandowski was set to make his MLS debut Thursday, but the air quality forced the postponement of his Chicago Fire’s contest against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Philadelphia Phillies also announced roughly three hours before the scheduled first pitch that their game against the New York Mets, originally slated for 7:10 p.m. ET, was moved up an hour.

The National Women’s Soccer League played a game at Citi Field that turned into the most-attended women’s sports contest in New York history, with 42,175 people attending Gotham FC’s match against the Washington Spirit at Citi Field. But Washington’s Trinity Rodman wasn’t happy with the game, which included two hydration breaks per half, being played.

Citi Field stands empty before the Queens Classic match.

Citi Field before the Queens Classic match between Washington Spirit and Gotham FC in New York. (Brenden Willsch/Imagn Images)

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“If we have to have a hydration break every 15 minutes, then we shouldn’t be playing the game, and that’s my opinion,” Rodman said. “But, at the end of the day, there’s 40,000 people. It’s a whole event, so it’s really tough. It’s just a really hard situation for everyone to work around.”

Three MLB games were postponed in 2023 due to air quality concerns in New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

The air quality in the tristate area has been deemed “unhealthy,” perhaps putting a wrinkle in Sunday’s World Cup final at nearby MetLife Stadium. But it is expected to be better in time.

Due to the air quality, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said she “directed” NJ Transit and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority “to make select quantities of masks available to commuters and at rest areas along the Turnpike and Parkway.”

Citizens Bank Park under hazy conditions in Philadelphia.

Citizens Bank Park during hazy conditions from wildfires in Canada in Philadelphia, Pa. A game between the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies was postponed because of unsafe air quality. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to “stay somewhere cool” and “drink plenty of water.”

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