These World Cup stadiums could hit 100º F in June and July: Here’s how teams will try to survive the heat

The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest in the competition’s history in several ways, from the number of teams and games to revenue generated. It also promises to be one of the hottest, which has long been a concern for FIFPRO, the global players’ union.

The tournament will be played at the height of the U.S. summer, between June 11 and July 19. While the 2022 edition in Qatar was moved to November and December, an unprecedented decision made to ensure players were not asked to compete in extreme heat, no such adjustment will be made this time.

Of course, summer World Cups have previously been held in countries, or parts of countries, with extremely high temperatures, often compounded by humidity.

Mexico has twice hosted the tournament before, in 1970 and 1986, with the United States also staging it in 1994. Even at the time, some teams complained about the conditions they were forced to play in, although climate change now threatens to make the issue more widespread and more severe.

What heat really means for players

The key issue is not just what the thermometer says. Playing in dry 86 degrees Fahrenheit heat is not the same as doing so in humidity, direct sun, and little wind. That is why researchers use an indicator that measures how the body actually experiences heat. In other words, it does not measure temperature alone, but how heat affects the human body.

And that is where the problem emerges.

At the 1994 World Cup, a group-stage match between Mexico and the Republic of Ireland kicked off at midday in Florida. “It was 117 degrees Fahrenheit at pitch level,” former Manchester United and Ireland defender Denis Irwin told ESPN. “The heat and humidity made it incredibly difficult to concentrate. It was probably dangerous to play in those conditions.”

High-risk 2026 host cities

Of the 2026 host cities, six, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami and Monterrey, have been identified as posing an “extremely high risk” of heat-stress injuries, including heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

The stadiums in Atlanta, Dallas and Houston have retractable roofs and are equipped with climate control. However, there are no such facilities in Kansas City, Miami, or Monterrey, which will be fully exposed to the elements.

In addition, Boston (Foxborough), Philadelphia, and Guadalajara are classified as “very high-risk” venues, with none of the three having covers.

According to FIFPRO medical director Vincent Gouttebarge, there is a risk of players’ body temperatures exceeding 104 degrees Fahrenheit. In that situation, “you don’t sweat anymore, you have a lack of muscle control, can barely walk, your cognitive process is affected and, in the worst case, you can lose consciousness,” he told ESPN.

How FIFA plans to respond

So, how are FIFA planning to tackle the issue?

World soccer’s governing body allows for one heat break per half when the temperature reaches at least 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) scale, which measures heat stress in direct sunlight, accounting for air temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle, and cloud cover.

FIFPRO, however, recommends introducing cooling breaks earlier, when WBGT levels reach 79 degrees Fahrenheit. Above 82 degrees, it considers play unsafe and advises delaying or postponing matches.

Games in the hottest host cities are generally scheduled later in the day, but there are exceptions as FIFA balances scheduling with global broadcast demands.

For instance, Norway vs France will be played at 3 p.m. in Boston, while England vs Ghana and a quarterfinal are scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. in Massachusetts.

Curaçao vs Ivory Coast will get underway at 4 p.m. in Philadelphia, which also has three 5 p.m. games.

The earliest kickoff time in Miami is 5 p.m., with four games starting at 6 p.m. There are also 6 p.m. kickoffs in Kansas City and Guadalajara, which will at least avoid the worst of the heat, although conditions are still likely to be uncomfortable for players and fans alike.

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