Study Warns One in Four 2026 World Cup Matches Face Dangerous Heat

Overview

• World Weather Attribution, which released its analysis Thursday, estimates about 25% of U.S. matches could hit a wet bulb globe temperature of 26°C or higher and at least five could reach 28°C.
• Wet bulb globe temperature, a heat-stress index that blends air temperature, humidity, sun, and wind, marks 26°C as a level that hinders performance and 28°C as unsafe under FIFPRO guidance.
• The report finds the likelihood of extreme match-time heat has nearly doubled since the 1994 World Cup in the U.S. because of human-caused warming.
• High-risk sites include Miami, parts of Texas, Kansas City, New York/New Jersey, and Philadelphia, while only three of 16 stadiums are cooled and many fans will gather outdoors.
• Player representatives and researchers urged stronger protocols after Thursday’s findings, noting FIFA’s mandatory hydration breaks while postponement is typically considered only above WBGT 32°C and a possible El Niño could push temperatures beyond the study’s baseline.