Climate experts challenged FIFA on Thursday after a warning that one in four 2026 World Cup games could take place in very hot conditions as global warming has increased the risk of extreme heat in North America since the US hosted the 1994 tournament.
Concerns about heat already prompted FIFA to mandate a cooling break during each half of the World Cup matches that will take place between June 11 and July 19 in 16 stadiums across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
"Players and fans face a much higher risk of gruelling heat and humidity at the 2026 World Cup compared to the 1994 tournament on the same continent," World Weather Attribution (WWA), a network of climate scientists, said in a statement.
WWA's scientific analysis estimates that 26 of the 104 matches could occur in conditions reaching at least 26C Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) – an index that measures how effectively the human body can cool itself under heat, humidity, sun exposure and wind.
At 26C WBGT, the international footballers' union FIFPRO recommends cooling breaks as heat strain becomes a real risk for players.
Of those 26 matches, 17 will be played in stadiums with cooling systems, reducing risks for players and fans.
During the 1994 World Cup hosted by the United States, 21 games would have been expected to reach a similar heat threshold, according to WWA.
Five games are expected to be played in conditions of 28C WBGT or higher, a level that FIFPRO says should lead to the delay or postponement of matches until conditions are safer for players and fans.
'CANCELLATION-LEVEL HEAT'
That risk has nearly doubled compared to the 1994 World Cup.
"It's dangerous for players, but of course there are also the fans who might gather outdoors and they are at even more risk because they will not be taken care of by a lot of medical doctors," said Friederike Otto, WWA co-founder and climate science professor at Imperial College London.
Three of the 16 stadiums – in Dallas, Houston and Atlanta – have air conditioning.
But more than a third of the games with a one in 10 chance of exceeding 26C will take place in venues without air conditioning.
The final, which will be played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, has a one in eight chance of seeing 26C WBGT conditions and a 2.7 per cent risk of 28C, according to WWA.
"That the World Cup Final itself – one of the biggest sporting occasions on the planet – faces a non-insignificant risk of being played in 'cancellation-level' heat should be a wake-up call for FIFA and fans," Otto said.
United Nations Climate Change executive secretary Simon Stiell lent his voice to the warning on social media.
"The risk of dangerous heat has doubled" since 1994, which will put "players and fans at risk", he said.
Stiell added: "We must move faster to protect the game we love and everyone who watches it. That means doubling down on the decisive shift to clean energy."
When contacted by AFP, FIFA outlined the preventive measures it has put in place for the World Cup.
"FIFA will continue to monitor conditions in real time, integrating Wet Bulb Globe Temperature and Heat Index surveillance, and stands ready to apply established contingency protocols should extreme weather events occur," the body listed, among other safeguards.
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