The 2026 World Cup under fire: A study warns of deadly heat threatening the biggest World Cup in history.
Temperatures are expected to exceed safe limits.
Written by: Mohammed Omran
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico approaches, concerns are growing about the impact of extreme heat waves on the safety of players and fans during the biggest tournament in World Cup history.
And she revealed study A recent study conducted by the World Weather Athlete Foundation has raised concerns among scientists about the possibility of many matches being held in extreme heat conditions, with temperatures expected to exceed medically safe limits in several host cities.
Study warns of deadly heat threatening the biggest World Cup in history
Researchers warned that high temperatures and humidity could increase the risk of heat stress and heatstroke, especially with matches being held during the hottest summer months in North America. The study indicates that climate change is a major threat to the safety of the tournament, with some matches expected to take place in conditions that could be unsafe for both players and fans.
Climate study sounds alarm bells ahead of tournament
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in less than a month, with the biggest football tournament returning to North America for the first time since 1994.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 national teams and 104 matches played in 16 host cities over 39 days, making it the biggest men's World Cup ever.
Climate change poses a new challenge to football.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, July is on average the hottest month of the year for the contiguous United States.
Climate scientists warn of the increasing risks posed by extreme heat waves.
Researchers from the World Weather Athlete organization analyzed historical weather data, climate models, and forecasts of tournament conditions in host venues across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The study focused on wet-bulb global temperature, also known as WBGT, which is essentially a measure of heat stress that combines air temperature, humidity, wind, and solar radiation and is commonly used in sports and occupational health guidelines.
The researchers found that around 25 percent of matches could exceed the wet-bulb temperature threshold of 26 degrees Celsius, conditions in which sports medicine guidelines recommend mandatory cooling periods and increased medical monitoring.
The study explained that approximately 25% of the matches take place in conditions where the global temperature exceeds 26 degrees Celsius or higher.
”This means, according to guidelines and recommendations, that cooling breaks will be absolutely essential,“ says Joyce Kimutay, a climate scientist at World Weather Athlete.
