Scientists and climate specialists have raised concerns over potentially dangerous heat conditions during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, calling on FIFA to introduce tougher safety protocols before the tournament kicks off.
According to BBC Sport, medical professionals, sports scientists, and climate experts issued an open letter urging FIFA to adopt stronger heat protection guidelines recommended by global players’ union FIFPRO.
The experts cautioned that increasing temperatures across United States, Canada, and Mexico — co-hosts of the 2026 tournament — could expose players and supporters to severe health risks.
“Player safety is an immediate and urgent concern because things can go wrong very quickly when people overheat,” said Andrew Simms, who coordinated the letter.
“We’re worried that FIFA is playing recklessly with the health and safety of players,” Simms added.
Fresh analysis from the World Weather Attribution group reportedly showed that nearly a quarter of tournament matches could be played in conditions above 26 degrees Celsius Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, a major indicator used to measure heat stress.
Researchers further warned that around five fixtures may surpass 28 degrees WBGT — levels regarded by FIFPRO as unsafe for elite football competition.
The report also indicated that the likelihood of extreme heat during the tournament has almost doubled compared to the 1994 World Cup held in North America.
Beyond rising temperatures, scientists warned that thunderstorms and wildfire smoke could also disrupt games during the summer event.
In response, FIFA said it plans to implement a “tiered heat mitigation model” throughout the competition, with precautions adjusted based on live weather assessments.
The football governing body added that dedicated weather monitoring systems would operate across all host cities, using WBGT measurements and heat indexes to support matchday decisions.
FIFA also stated that scheduling had taken climate concerns into account, with efforts made to avoid fixtures during peak daytime heat and allocate warmer matches to covered stadiums whenever possible.
The organisation maintained that it would continue collaborating with health experts and local authorities to ensure a safe tournament environment.
