Scientists issue brutal FIFA warning over World Cup weather

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Martin Macdonald | Writer

Content writer covering football, formula 1 and movies

The 2026 World Cup will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer as players face the prospect of playing in a major North American heatwave.

Concerns about the climate during the tournament intensified last summer when the US held the Club World Cup.

During Juventus' clash with Real Madrid in Miami, head coach Igor Tudor said ten of his players asked to be substituted with temperatures reaching 30°C and humidity 70 per cent, while Dortmund boss Niko Kovac said he was "sweating like I've just come out of a sauna" during the victory over Mamelodi Sundowns.

Then-Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca joined the chorus of complaints. Ahead of Chelsea's Group D match against Esperance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Blues boss said: "It is almost impossible to train or to make a session because of the weather. Now, we are trying just to save energy for the game."

"I had to lie down on the ground because I was really dizzy," added Enzo Fernandez after Chelsea's semi-final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

"Playing in this temperature is very dangerous!"

Four games a day will take place in the group stage this summer, so at least two will be played under the beating sun.

Mandatory water breaks have been introduced by FIFA and benches will be cooled for staff and players, but in an open letter by a group of world-leading scientists, they insist the current protocols are not enough.

They want longer cooling breaks and for games to be delayed or even postponed if the heat becomes unbearable for the players.

In southern US states and northern Mexico, average daytime highs usually sit in the low to mid-30s Celsius and can climb to around 40C during hotter periods.

Once temperature, humidity, wind speed and sunshine intensity are taken into account, players in these World Cup host cities face the highest risk of severe heat stress.

The 20 experts from around the world who have signed the letter, want the following protocols introduced:

- Delaying or postponing matches above 28C WBGT

- Longer cooling breaks of at least six minutes

- Improved cooling facilities for players

- Regular updates to guidelines based on the latest science

WBGT is wet-bulb globe temperature. It’s a heat-stress measure that combines air temperature, humidity, wind speed and sunlight to show how hard conditions are on the human body.

It’s often used for outdoor work and sports because it gives a better picture of heat risk than temperature alone and FIFA have this in place for the World Cup.

Andrew Simms, director of the New Weather Institute, who coordinated the letter, told BBC Sport:

"Player safety is an immediate and urgent concern because things can go wrong very quickly when people overheat.

"We're worried that Fifa is playing recklessly with the health and safety of players."

Professor Douglas Casa from the University of Connecticut, said: "The hydration break in each half absolutely needs to be longer than three minutes - at least five minutes for each break and preferably six.

"We hope this open letter convinces FIFA to update its heat guidelines before the World Cup."

World Weather Attribution (WWA) analysed that heat and humidity is expected to be more severe than the 1994 World Cup which took place in the USA due to climate change.

The open letter from the group of scientists partly states:

"Player health and safety must remain the non-negotiable foundation of football governance

and the heat risks for the upcoming World Cup make this question more urgent than ever.

We ask if FIFA will commit to evaluating and updating its guidelines in accordance with the

best practice and science, and in line with its stated prioritising of player safety?"

FIFA said it had a heat plan in place for the tournament, based on changing conditions rather than a fixed approach.

It said meteorological experts will monitor the weather centrally and in each host city, using WBGT and heat index data to help guide decisions.

The governing body added that the fixture list was built with climate concerns in mind, with altered kick-off times, reduced scheduling in the hottest parts of the day where possible, and warmer games placed in roofed stadiums. It also said the plan is intended to cut down on travel and allow more recovery time, using local heat-risk assessments.

You can read the full letter HERE: