Experts Urge FIFA to Tackle Extreme Heat Risk at 2026 World Cup

Medical experts, climate scientists and sports researchers have warned that rising temperatures in the US, Canada and Mexico could endanger players and fans at the 2026 World Cup. In an open letter to FIFA, they urged adoption of stricter heat protection standards proposed by the global players’ union. A new analysis by World Weather Attribution shows one in four matches could face Wet Bulb Globe Temperatures above 26°C, with up to five games exceeding 28°C – levels FIFPRO deems unsafe. Experts say the risk of extreme heat has nearly doubled since the 1994 North America tournament. They also flagged potential disruptions from thunderstorms and wildfire smoke during summer fixtures. FIFA has responded with a tiered heat-mitigation model, dedicated meteorological monitoring and match scheduling that avoids the hottest times of day.

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