Players and fans at the 2026 World Cup could face dangerous heat and humidity during the tournament, according to climate and medical experts. New analysis suggests that about a quarter of the 104 matches may be played in conditions that require extra safety measures.
Experts warn about risky match conditions
World Weather Attribution said climate change has increased the heat risk compared with the last World Cup hosted in the United States in 1994. The tournament will be played in the US, Mexico and Canada during the northern hemisphere summer.
The group’s analysis says around 25 percent of games are likely to take place when conditions exceed 26C on the wet bulb global temperature scale. This index measures how well the human body can cool itself, combining heat, humidity and other factors.
FIFPRO advises safety measures such as cooling when the WBGT level is above 26C. Around five matches are expected to be played above 28C WBGT, a level the players’ union considers unsafe and recommends postponing.
Final and knockout games may also be affected
The World Cup final, scheduled for 19 July in New York and New Jersey, is among the games at risk of being played above the safety benchmark. Two quarter-finals and the third-place match are also listed among fixtures that could face difficult conditions.
According to the analysis, there is a one-in-eight chance that the final could be played at a temperature where the body struggles more to cool itself. There is also a 3 percent chance of conditions reaching a level considered unsafe for play.
The warning is not only about players inside stadiums. In Dallas and Houston, even where venues are cooled, fans outside the arenas could face a one-in-three chance of temperatures above 28C WBGT for most matches.
FIFPRO calls for stronger protection
FIFPRO medical director Dr Vincent Gouttebarge said the WWA estimates match the union’s earlier calculations from 2023. He said the numbers support the need for mitigation strategies to protect player health and performance during hot conditions.
Dr Friederike Otto of Imperial College London said the findings show climate change is already affecting the ability to host World Cups during summer in the northern hemisphere. He warned that even the final facing a real risk of cancellation-level heat should be taken seriously by FIFA and supporters.
FIFA has already changed hydration rules
FIFA has announced that every match at the 2026 World Cup will include three-minute hydration breaks after 22 minutes of each half. These breaks will happen regardless of temperature, host country, stadium roof or air conditioning.
The policy simplifies previous rules, where breaks were linked to specific temperature thresholds. The change follows complaints during last year’s Club World Cup in the US, where players and coaches raised concerns about extreme heat.
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez said he felt dizzy while playing in very dangerous conditions, while England manager Thomas Tuchel has suggested substitutes may stay in the dressing room during matches to avoid exposure to high temperatures.
