As global temperatures continue to climb, the threat of extreme heat looms over the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada during June and July. July is historically the hottest month in the contiguous US, and data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicates a warming trend since records began in 1895. Wet bulb globe temperatures, a measure that accounts for humidity, wind, and solar radiation, could exceed 32°C (90°F) in afternoon hours in Dallas, Houston, and Monterrey, according to research.
Heat Risks for Players and Spectators
Donal Mullan, a senior lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast, led a study last year on heat risks for host cities. He noted that 14 out of 16 host locations face extreme heat levels that could endanger players, officials, and spectators. Fully covered stadiums offer some protection, but exposure to heat—especially during physical exertion—can cause nausea, dehydration, headaches, stroke, and even death. Concerns escalated after record-breaking temperatures struck large parts of the US in March, and scientists warn that summer soccer tournaments are becoming increasingly hazardous due to climate change driven by fossil fuel pollution.
The 2022 Qatar World Cup was moved to winter for similar reasons. Last year’s Club World Cup saw temperatures soar into the 90s°F (32s°C), prompting the global soccer players' union to warn that extreme heat will be an even greater challenge for the next two men’s World Cups, including the 2030 edition co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
Measures to Protect Athletes and Personnel
FIFA has introduced several welfare protocols. Players will receive three-minute hydration breaks midway through each half, regardless of weather. Teams can make up to five substitutions, and a minimum of three rest days between matches is mandated. Climate-controlled benches will be available for substitutes and staff at outdoor matches. Match schedules are adjusted to limit outdoor games during the hottest parts of the day, and kick-off times are modified in certain markets. Matches expected in warmer periods are prioritized for covered stadiums where possible.
A Heat Illness Mitigation and Management Task Force, comprising medical and operational experts, is finalizing heat-risk alert systems, stadium medical action plans, and standardized guidance. This includes heat messaging and activation of extreme heat plans when temperatures become dangerous.
Public Safety and Medical Response
Officials will monitor conditions and activate extreme heat plans as needed, which involve public safety messaging on heat protection and recognition of heat exhaustion and stroke symptoms. In Vancouver, if Environment and Climate Change Canada issues a heat warning, the city will add temporary drinking fountains, handwashing stations, and misting stations, complementing a multilingual heat awareness campaign. Volunteers will distribute heat safety information along tournament routes. Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Health will disseminate heat safety and hydration information before and during the games, and launch a public heat dashboard with near-real-time data on heat-related emergency room visits. New York City will send notifications in 14 languages to 1.5 million subscribers, plus international visitors via the Everbridge app and WhatsApp channels.
William Adams, an assistant professor at Michigan State University specializing in exertional heat stress, noted that while educational campaigns promote hydration and shade use, passive information dissemination is not always effective. A more active approach is challenging for large events. Medical personnel will be stationed at FIFA Fan Festivals and stadiums, including in Toronto and Dallas. At Dallas outdoor events, medical professionals have access to ice and ice immersion bags, and the festival site will have two climate-controlled medical stations.
Shade, Water, and Cooling Stations
Cities and stadiums are expanding access to shade, cooling areas, and water. Seattle’s Office of Emergency Management is exploring air-conditioned buses, tents, and water misters at fan fests. Vancouver will provide shaded seating at all tournament events. Dallas mandates rest and hydration breaks for volunteers and workers at outdoor events, and officials will coordinate with volunteer organizations to distribute water. These efforts aim to reduce heat-related illnesses and minimize strain on local hospitals.
Stadium Coverage and Cooler Scheduling
Some stadiums offer full coverage. BC Place in Vancouver, hosting seven games, is one of only four fully covered 2026 World Cup stadiums, protecting players and fans from weather. The Dallas venue is enclosed with air conditioning, so no weather-related issues are anticipated indoors. In Santa Clara, California, all matches will be played in the evening when temperatures are cooler.
Elliot Arthur-Worsop, founding director of For Football for Future, emphasized that tournament organizers have a responsibility to ensure safety. “That’s a social contract between fans and football governing bodies,” he said. A climate report published before the games found that heat and other climate risks will intensify in most host stadiums by 2050. “By the next time the World Cup returns to this part of the world,” he added, “it will have to be structured differently and adapted.”
