Thomas Tuchel will have to adjust his England side's approach to World Cup 2026 games due to the North American humidity. That is according to ex-USA and Sporting KC defender Matt Besler.
Weather at the World Cup has been a topic of conversation for the Three Lions. Tuchel's side jetted off to the States before the tournament for a warm-weather camp in Miami in a bid to acclimatise to some of the extreme heat and humid weather they will face during the competition. As it happens, rain ended up being more of a problem during their warm-up against Costa Rica.
Their matches in Boston and New York have the potential to be muggy, not to mention their training base in Kansas City can also boast extreme heat and humid summer air.
Besler, who is Sporting KC's record appearance-maker and earned 47 caps for the US Men's National Team, is experienced playing in this climate and thinks the manager will have to adjust how he approaches games.
Asked if he thinks humidity will be a concern for England, Besler exclusively told Mirror Football: "I do, I do, I do. I want to be a little careful because it annoys me as a player when the weather becomes too big a talking point. It is like, 'Come on, let us get on with the game. It is the same for both teams.' But it is a factor for sure. Humidity is difficult to play in. You will have to change your approach a little bit.
"It changes the game. Sometimes you have to slow it down. I am curious to see how it affects some of the European teams compared to the South American teams. They are used to that type of climate. Their style of play maybe fits that a little bit. But the humidity here is real and it is something that the players are going to have to battle."
Local author, reporter and MLS game announcer Nate Bukaty is a Kansas City native. He shed further light on what the Three Lions can expect weather-wise at their World Cup base.
"Well, our phrase is, 'If you do not like the weather in Kansas City, just wait a minute,'" he said. "Usually, it is going to change. Typically, in June, it is going to be hot and muggy. There will sometimes be some massive thunderstorms that will come through. They do not usually last that long. So, it is going to be hot and muggy. That is more likely than not."
