Messi’s Argentina face Spain in the World Cup final
Sports analyst Dan Dakich previews the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain and highlights Lionel Messi’s leadership. Dakich predicts Argentina will win and praises Messi’s consistent greatness. The discussion then shifts to WNBA star Caitlin Clark, who NBA commissioner Adam Silver called a ‘political football’ amid physical play controversy. Dakich attributes some problems to the jealousy and envy of WNBA players.
NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
The World Cup final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday between Spain and Argentina has the potential to be played in unhealthy conditions.
Canadian wildfires have caused air quality in the Northeast and Midwest to range from “unhealthy” to “hazardous.”
It wouldn’t be the first time fire smoke was present at a major soccer match – the 2015 Women’s World Cup final in Canada was surrounded by smoke from nearby forest fires. But with professional games being moved due to the air, the World Cup could potentially be next on the list.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Lionel Messi celebrates for fans after crossing the ball for Argentina’s second goal by Lautaro Martinez during the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final match between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on July 15, 2026. (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
FOX announcer John Strong isn’t too worried just yet, though.
“I have hope and confidence that the greater forces at play will ensure that this is a good condition to play a wonderful game and a wonderful occasion, and hopefully not quite as hot when you look at the forecast for Sunday,” said John Strong.
However, color commentator Stu Holden said the potential conditions could play a big role on the pitch and could actually be detrimental to Argentina.
“It makes me sit back and think Spain’s possession will be as important as ever for them to get another team going, given the way they wear teams down,” Holden said. “So I think it’s important from an Argentine perspective that they find ways to have the ball against this Spanish team, which is so very difficult.
“As we always say, the ball moves faster than you can run, and Spain do when they get a goal. If they get the first goal, it’s almost impossible to come back against them because they don’t stop playing. So my hope is that the smoke doesn’t play a role because that would be a shame and certainly the conditions, we don’t want to take away from the spectacle on the pitch.”
Spain actually practiced in nearby East Hanover on Thursday, while Argentina remained in Atlanta, which has not been nearly as affected.
Officials urged people to stay inside or wear masks outside as air quality reached unhealthy dangerous levels, meaning it is unhealthy for everyone, regardless of health conditions. Experts expressed concern about holding training outdoors.
Smoke from wildfires — which are burning more of North America as the Earth warms — attacks nearly every system in the body and kills tens of thousands of people a year, numerous medical studies show.
It attacks the body immediately and increases asthma cases with increased ambulance calls within hours. Smoke can trigger inflammation in various parts of the body, often attacking a person’s weakest points, which can then trip up various effects of an immune system trying to fight off a nasty irritant, doctors and scientists said.
Smoke from wildfires in Canada shrouds the Manhattan skyline in Brooklyn, New York, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
METS AND PHILLIES STARS SHOW CONCERN ABOUT PLAYING IN UNHEALTHY AIR QUALITY: ‘NOT THE GREATEST IDEA’
A Major League Soccer game was postponed Thursday in Chicago due to air quality. The match was to be Polish star Robert Lewandowski’s MLS debut.
The Philadelphia Phillies also announced about three hours before the scheduled first pitch that their game against the New York Mets, originally scheduled for 7:10 PM ET, was moved up an hour. Despite the change, Bryce Harper said it was “not the best idea” to play, while other players complained of thick air, tasting metal and burning eyes.
The National Women’s Soccer League played a match at Citi Field on Wednesday under similar conditions that became the most attended women’s sports competition in New York history, with 42,175 attending Gotham FC’s game against the Washington Spirit at Citi Field. But Washington’s Trinity Rodman wasn’t happy with the game, which included two hydration breaks per game. half time.
“If we’re going 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 are 40,000 people. It’s a whole event, so it’s really tough. It’s just a really tough situation for everybody to work around.”
Three MLB games postponed in 2023 due to air quality issues in New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC
A general view of Citizens Bank Park during the game between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies on July 16, 2026 in Philadelphia. The Mets defeated the Phillies 4-1. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
Air quality in the tri-state area has been deemed “unhealthy,” perhaps adding a wrinkle to Sunday’s World Cup final at nearby MetLife Stadium. But it is expected to improve over time with cold fronts and rain showers entering the area on Saturday.
