PHILADELPHIA — Heavy smoke from wildfires in Canada and northern Minnesota forced Major League Baseball to bump up the start time of Thursday’s New York Mets-Philadelphia Phillies game by an hour, while Major League Soccer postponed a match in Chicago as air quality deteriorated across the region.
The Mets-Phillies game, originally slated for 7:10 p.m. EDT, began at 6:10 p.m. after air quality readings in Philadelphia reached unhealthy levels. The National Weather Service attributed the lingering smoke to a high pressure system trapping particulates near the ground. It was the only MLB game scheduled coming out of the All-Star break.
“It’s definitely different,” Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper told ESPN during the broadcast. “Not the greatest idea, I guess, to come out here and play in this type of weather, but we’re doing it.”
Philadelphia’s skies remained hazy and smoky throughout the evening. After his team’s 4-1 win, Mets interim manager Andy Green said conditions didn’t significantly affect the game, though he noted visibility challenges. “I think it felt like they could have at any moment, especially as visibility got tougher,” Green said. “But, guys managed to see baseballs that I couldn’t when they went up in the air as popups.”
Phillies manager Don Mattingly said tracking fly balls became more difficult as the game wore on. “It didn’t seem to be a huge problem,” Mattingly said. “The vision, later on, was a little bit like foggy conditions more than the air quality.”
This marks the second time wildfire smoke has disrupted a game in Philadelphia. In June 2023, a game between the Detroit Tigers and Phillies was postponed due to similar smoke from Canadian wildfires. The recurrence has drawn attention to the growing frequency of such events, with some lawmakers pushing for a tougher response. A GOP senator has proposed sanctions on Canada over the wildfire smoke crisis, arguing that the U.S. should not bear the health and economic costs of cross-border pollution.
The MLS match between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Chicago Fire at Soldier Field, along with a scheduled postgame concert, was postponed due to poor air quality. The game, expected to draw 40,000 fans, has been rescheduled for Oct. 6. The Canadian Premier League also postponed Thursday’s match between Forge FC and Pacific FC in Hamilton, Ontario, citing “worsening air quality issues” that deteriorated just before kickoff.
The smoke also affected women’s soccer. U.S. women’s national team star Trinity Rodman said the smoky conditions during Wednesday night’s NWSL game between the Washington Spirit and Gotham FC at Citi Field were difficult. “Air quality was rough,” Rodman told The Athletic. “Not to make excuses at all, but I think on both sides we were all like, ‘another break, another break, another break.’” She criticized the frequent hydration breaks in the 90-degree heat, arguing that if such measures are needed every 15 minutes, the game shouldn’t be played. Still, more than 42,000 fans attended, setting a record for a women’s sporting event in New York City.
As millions across the Midwest and Northeast face hazardous air, officials continue urging residents to stay indoors or wear masks outdoors. The smoke is expected to persist through the week, with some improvement by the weekend. Meanwhile, the disruption to professional sports highlights the broader impact of climate-driven wildfires on daily life and public health.
