Overview
- Experts warned Wednesday that Miami's combined heat and humidity could push Wet Bulb Globe Temperatures toward levels that greatly raise the risk of major heat illness for players.
- Kinesiologists say sticky air stops sweat from evaporating, which forces the heart to work harder, raises core temperature, and can slow decision-making and reduce game pace.
- FIFA has added three-minute hydration breaks, but specialists call those breaks a limited fix and urge early team acclimatisation and stronger stop-play thresholds.
- Miami-Dade and other host-city health departments have opened cooling stations, water refill points, misting areas and heat-illness dashboards and are coordinating with hospitals and first responders.
- Because WBGT accounts for humidity, sun and wind it is a better predictor of risk than air temperature alone and climate-driven heat increases mean real-time monitoring and layered protections will shape player safety and local health demand.