The 2026 FIFA World Cup is underway. This is the pinnacle of football, with 48 countries battling it out for the most coveted trophy. A couple of matches have already taken place in the US, Mexico and Canada.
A first during these matches is the three-minute cooling break halfway through each half. FIFA has enforced the cooling breaks so players and match officials can rest and hydrate.
The World Weather Attribution (WWA) says that heat will be part of the tournament, which is happening at a time of extreme weather events. One in four matches, WWA says, are expected to be played in hazardous conditions, with 26 of 104 matches expected to take place in locations where heat strain could pose risks to both players and the audience.
This year, the World Cup is being played across 16 host cities, including cities where experts say temperatures could go as high as 92.2 degrees Celsius.
To determine the extent of heat stress, the experts use a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) which factors sunlight, humidity, heat, wind and direct radiation. Some matches could cross recommended heat safety limits,
Another study “Pitches in Peril” reveals that by 2050, 14 of 16 host stadiums are projected to face extreme heat conditions. Experts say that during extreme heat, the game slows down. Players sprint less, and recover more slowly. It could also mean earlier substitutions, poor concentration which could affect the outcome of a game. A peer-reviewed study analysing 57 matches and 1,070 player observations found that the average WBGT exceeded 28 degrees Celsius in 31 matches, placing players at a heightened risk of heat-related illness. The challenge is compounded by limited cooling infrastructure, with only three of the 16 tournament stadiums equipped with air-conditioning.
While players benefit from medical support and close monitoring on the pitch, fans may face even greater exposure to extreme heat. Many spend prolonged periods outdoors while queuing to enter or exit stadiums, navigating fan zones, or waiting along transport routes, often with far fewer protections against heat stress.
Scientists say climate change, driven by human activities like burning of fossil fuels, is causing extreme weather events to become more frequent and intense.
“On the pitch, at every level – from the highest levels of international football to the grassroots game – it means more extreme heat. More fatigue. Harder decisions, slower reactions, players and fans in the red zone. And it’s not just the things we love, like football and the many other sports under serious pressure from global heating. It's also the things we need – like food, as global heating hits harvests and pushes up prices for everyone,” says Simon
While the game is adapting through measures such as heat protocols, cooling breaks and improved scheduling, experts say much more needs to be done to protect players, fans and workers from the growing risks posed by extreme heat.
“The current fossil fuel crisis is hitting billions of people in every country with much higher costs. The good news is that we know how to fix the climate crisis. Kick the dependence on planet-heating fossil fuels and move much faster to clean energy,” says Stiell.
