The global football players’ union this Thursday renewed concerns about the heat during the 2026 World Cupafter scientists warned that the likelihood of dangerous temperatures for athletes and fans increased considerably.
An analysis from the climate research group World Weather Attribution concluded that about a quarter of the tournament’s 104 matches expanded, which will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada, should take place in conditions above recommended safety limits by FIFPRO.
The index represents almost double the risk recorded in 1994, carried out in the United States.
According to the researchers, approximately five matches could take place in conditions considered unsafe, a scenario in which the postponement of the games would be recommended.
Scientists assessed the risks based on match times and the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index, which measures the human body’s ability to cool itself.
“Estimates on the probability of 2026 World Cup games being played under high WBGT conditions are in line with calculations published by FIFPRO in 2023,” said the entity’s medical director, Vincent Gouttebarge.
“These estimates justify the need for and implementation of a range of mitigation strategies to better protect the health and performance of players when exposed to hot conditions,” he added.
FIFPRO recommends cooling measures when the WBGT exceeds 26 degrees Celsius and defends the postponement of matches if the index exceeds 28°Cequivalent to around 38°C in dry climates or 30°C in environments with high humidity.
FIFA informed the Reuters which carried out specific planning for the , including at each half of the matches, cooling infrastructure for players and fans, adaptation of work and rest cycles, in addition to reinforcing medical preparation according to real-time conditions.
“FIFA is committed to protecting the health and safety of players, referees, fans, volunteers and staff. More conservative football”, declared the entity in an official statement.
Consultant anesthetist at Imperial College London NHS Trust and senior clinical lecturer at Imperial College London, Chris Mullington, said it tends to influence playing style more than cause widespread medical emergencies among athletes.
“It will be more a question of performance than of health. These players are elite athletes and are acclimatized. We will see athletes measuring their pace. This behavioral thermal regulation is very difficult to ignore. So, we can have more conservative football”, he added.
According to the analysis, cooling systems should reduce part of the risk in three of the 16 host stadiums.
Even so, more than a third of matches with at least a 10% chance of exceeding 26°C of WBGT are scheduled for non-air-conditioned arenas, including cities such as Miami, Kansas City, New York and Philadelphia.
Final no MetLife Stadium
Among them is the final, scheduled for MetLife Stadium, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The stadium now has a one-in-eight chance of exceeding the 26°C limit and a roughly 3% risk of reaching even more dangerous levels — about double the risk seen in 1994, according to the study.
Imperial College London climate science professor Friederike Otto said the results reinforce the need for FIFA to reconsider the timing of future World Cups, especially in regions vulnerable to extreme summer heat.
“From a health point of view, it would be advisable to hold these World Cups earlier or later in the year, so that there is a celebration of football and not something that represents a huge health risk for the entire city,” said Otto.
FIFPRO also warned that while air-conditioned stadiums in cities like Dallas and Houston can help protect players, fans attending games and outdoor festivals will continue to be exposed to long periods of dangerous heat.
