The month-long Club World Cup, being played across 11 American cities, has coincided with a significant heatwave. While FIFPRO officials commended FIFA for implementing cooling measures during matches, they noted that FIFA did not adopt their pre-tournament advice to postpone kickoff times by several hours on the hottest days. This reluctance, FIFPRO suggests, will be even more pronounced at the World Cups due to increased commercial pressures and a denser match schedule.
High-Risk Zones for 2026 and Beyond
According to FIFPRO's assessment, six of the 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are classified as "extremely high risk" for heat stress injury to players. These include Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, and Monterrey, though some of these cities boast indoor, air-conditioned stadiums.
"We are anticipating that this problem is going to be even more crucial for the coming years," FIFPRO medical director Vincent Gouttebarge stated in a briefing.
The outlook for the 2030 World Cup, co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco in June and July, appears even more concerning. Fewer stadiums in these regions are enclosed and cooled, and temperatures in some cities on Monday already reached or exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). Gouttebarge cautioned that "the hot weather prospects for the tournament there is even perhaps worse than what we have been facing so far."
Proposed Mitigation Measures
FIFPRO has proposed several additional measures to mitigate the heat's impact, including:
- Extended halftime breaks: Increasing from 15 to 20 minutes to allow players more time to lower their core temperatures.
- More frequent cooling breaks: Implementing breaks every 15 minutes during play, as opposed to the current standard of every 30th minute of each half.
FIFA, which has been approached for comment, has already responded during the Club World Cup by lowering the threshold for mandating cooling or water breaks and ensuring more water and towels are available pitchside. FIFPRO CEO-like general secretary Alex Phillips acknowledged, "We are partially happy because FIFA have been quite responsive once the tournament was underway."
The union also advocates for better shaded benches for substitutes and more hydration breaks. While these practical adjustments are crucial, FIFPRO strategy director Alexander Bielefeld warned, "at some point that probably won’t be enough."
FIFPRO's research, provided to FIFA before the Club World Cup commenced on June 14, was based on weather trends in the host cities since 2014. Seven of the 11 Club World Cup venues were deemed high risk, with Philadelphia and Washington D.C. at the top end. "The past few weeks was also a confirmation of our worry," Gouttebarge said, "that the heat condition would play a negative role for the performance and health of the players."
The challenges posed by extreme weather have already manifested, with six Club World Cup games halted due to nearby electrical storms, including a nearly two-hour delay during Chelsea’s match against Benfica in Charlotte. As global temperatures continue to rise, ensuring player safety and optimal performance in major tournaments presents an increasingly complex and urgent challenge for football's governing bodies.