2026 World Cup Players Face Greater Heat Risk Than 1994 Tournament, Study Warns
A report from Imperial College London predicts that five matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America could take place in unsafe heat conditions, compared to three in 1994, due to climate change. The study uses wet bulb globe temperature thresholds recommended by the international players' union to assess heat safety. Sixty current and former professional soccer players have urged FIFA to update its heat guidelines before the tournament.
Researchers at Imperial College London have estimated that the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled for June and July across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will face significantly greater risks from extreme heat than the last U.S.-hosted tournament in 1994. The study predicts five matches could occur in unsafe conditions based on a wet bulb globe temperature threshold of 83°F recommended by FIFPRO, the international players' union, compared to three matches in 1994. Wet bulb globe temperature accounts for sun, humidity, and air temperature to measure physiological stress on the human body. FIFA currently uses a higher threshold of 90°F for considering match postponements. The World Cup Final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey faces a 3 percent chance of reaching the 83°F threshold. Climate scientists attribute the increased risk to human-induced climate change, and sixty professional soccer players have issued an open letter urging FIFA to update its heat safety protocols and reduce the sport's fossil fuel footprint.
What's missing
The article does not provide details on FIFA's official response to the Imperial College London report or the players' open letter, nor does it specify what specific schedule or venue changes FIFA might consider in response to these heat risk projections.
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