Latest study flags additional risk to 2026 World Cup for players and fans
A new study warns that rising temperatures could force cooling breaks, schedule changes and extra safety measures across the tournament.
The 2026 World Cup will not only feature more national teams, more host cities and more games. It will also be shaped by high temperatures. A study by World Weather Attribution warns that climate change will play a major role during the tournament, which will be held from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The research suggests that 26 games could be played in heat levels that would require special measures, such as cooling and hydration breaks. In 1994, the last time the United States hosted a World Cup, the estimate was lower: 21 games in those conditions.
Why the World Cup thermometer does not tell the whole story
The key is not just what the thermometer says. Playing in dry 86F heat is not the same as doing so with humidity, direct sun and little wind. That is why the study uses an indicator that measures how the body actually experiences heat. In other words, it does not measure temperature alone, but how heat really affects the human body.
And that is where the problem emerges. FIFPRO, the international footballers’ union, recommends introducing cooling breaks when that heat level reaches 79F. Above 82F, it considers play unsafe and advises delaying or postponing the game. Current FIFA rules, however, allow postponements only at much higher levels, above 90F.
The report says five World Cup games could be played in conditions that FIFPRO considers unsafe. In 1994, the expected figure was three. In addition, the likelihood of reaching even more extreme levels, while still low, has nearly doubled compared with that World Cup.
Which World Cup host cities face greatest heat risk?
The most exposed host cities are Miami, Kansas City, Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey and, to a lesser extent, Monterrey and Boston. Some cities will have air-conditioned stadiums, but that does not eliminate all the risks. Inside the stadium there may be more protection, but outside there will be fans, fan zones, travel, lines, celebrations and everything else that surrounds a World Cup.
One example cited in the study is the game between the Netherlands and Tunisia, scheduled in Kansas City at 7 p.m. ET. Although it will not be played in the early afternoon, the game would have a 7% chance of exceeding the heat threshold that FIFPRO considers grounds for postponement.
How hot will it be for the 2026 World Cup final?
The final, scheduled for New York/New Jersey on July 19, is also part of the analysis. The study calculates a 12% chance of exceeding the 79F humid-heat threshold and a 2.7% chance of reaching the level FIFPRO considers unsafe for play.
That is why soccer will increasingly have to adapt to these situations. More hydration breaks, better-planned schedules, shaded areas, cooling systems and safety measures for players and fans will become increasingly necessary. Because heat is no longer just an inconvenience. In a summer World Cup, it can affect performance, health and even the normal course of games.
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