It could impact The Three Lions’ performances
FIFA has been warned that the current heat safety measures for the World Cup this summer are not adequate and it could result in serious harm for the players.
The guidelines of football’s governing body are out of step with the current science and “impossible to justify”, external, international experts in health, climate and sports performance have said in an open letter.
The experts have called on FIFA to introduce stronger protections for the players, including longer cooling breaks during matches.
Clearer protocols have also been required for delaying or postponing games in the event of extreme conditions during a game.
Temperatures at this year’s World Cup and what it means for the England squad
At the 2006 World Cup which took place in Germany, England players faced significant physical struggles due to extreme heat and high humidity.
This was most notable in the England squad’s opening match in Frankfurt against Paraguay, where temperatures reached 30°C.
The Three Lions complained of fatigue and lost up to 4.5 kg in fluids while requiring excessive water consumption, BBC reported at the time.
At this year’s World Cup, which takes place in the United States, Mexico and Canada, heat is expected to be an issue, as researchers have warned that temperatures could exceed dangerous levels at 14 of the 16 stadiums.
Average daytime highs are typically in the low to mid-30°Cs and can rise towards 40°C during hotter spells, in parts of the southern US and northern Mexico.
For the players, this means that they are at greatest risk of experiencing extreme levels of heat stress on the body in these host cities at the World Cup.
According to FIFA, the body is “committed to protecting the health and safety of players, referees, fans, volunteers and staff”, and climate-related risks are assessed as part of tournament planning.
World Cup 2026 and how the extreme weather could affect players
Regardless of weather conditions, the governing body has introduced mandatory three-minute cooling breaks in each half of every match for the tournament, as part of its “commitment to player welfare”.
For technical staff and substitutes at all outdoor matches, there will be climate-controlled benches for technical staff and substitutes.
The gold-standard heat measure for sport, the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which assesses physical heat stress on the body and combines heat and humidity, is also used by FIFA during the tournament.
A widely considered threshold at which heat stress becomes a significant concern for elite athletes is a WBGT of around 28°C.
If the WBGT reading is near, at or above 32°C, match organisers should agree “what precautions need to be taken to prevent any heat-related illness from occurring”, as per FIFA’s emergency care manual.
How the fans will cope with the heat
According to FIFA, there are measures in place for fans at matches “when forecasts indicate elevated temperatures”.
Fans can bring in a factory-sealed water bottle, and venues will activate additional cooling.
These include shaded areas, misting systems, cooling buses and expanded water distribution.
Here’s what the scientists are calling for
The 20 world-leading experts who have signed the letter include leading academics from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Europe.
What they want from FIFA is to urgently overhaul its approach, including:
• Delaying or postponing matches above 28C WBGT
• Longer cooling breaks of at least six minutes
• Improved cooling facilities for players
• Regular updates to guidelines based on the latest science
They also urge FIFA to adopt standards proposed by global players’ union FIFPRO.
Speaking to BBC Sport, director of the New Weather Institute and the coordinator of the letter, Andrew Simms, said that “player safety is an immediate and urgent concern because things can go wrong very quickly when people overheat.”
“We’re worried that FIFA is playing recklessly with the health and safety of players.”
Professor Douglas Casa from the University of Connecticut, another signatory of the letter, said that “hydration break in each half absolutely needs to be longer than three minutes – at least five minutes for each break and preferably six”, as he added that large parts of current guidance was far from ideal.
The difference in temperatures between the 2026 and 1994 World Cups
According to new analysis from the World Weather Attribution (WWA), players and fans face a much higher risk of gruelling heat and humidity at the tournament compared with the 1994 World Cup which also took part in the US.
At the 1994 World Cup final between Brazil and Italy at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, the match was played in intense heat, with temperatures reaching approximately 38°C.
It was one of the hottest World Cup matches on record, creating a sweltering, sauna-like atmosphere for the crowd and players.
At the 2026 World Cup, extreme weather is expected to play a key part.
This is because heat, thunderstorms and even poor air quality from wildfires are all features of summer across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
A quarter of the matches, scientists found, are likely to be played above 26°C WBGT, while about five games could exceed 28C WBGT (equivalent to about 38°C in dry heat, or 30°C in high humidity).
This is a level that FIFPRO considers as unsafe to play in.
As per BBC Sport, while it declined to comment directly on the letter or the scientists’ claims, FIFA said it would use a “tiered heat mitigation model” at the tournament, with measures adapted to real-time conditions.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and the players’ and fans’ struggles
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which was held in the United States in June and July of last year, served as a crucial trial for the 2026 World Cup, allowing FIFA to test infrastructure, pitch quality, and logistics.
One could argue it also served as a test for how players and fans would cope with the high temperatures during the summer.
Temperatures during the tournament frequently reached or exceeded 30°C, with several matches played under, or threatened by, extreme weather conditions.
In Charlotte, during the Benfica vs. Bayern Munich game, temperatures reached 36°C, while in Philadelphia the Juventus vs. Wydad AC match saw temperatures also reach the same levels.
One of the highest was recorded in Washington D.C. during the RB Salzburg vs. Al-Hilal game, with highs of 37°C reported.
Players and coaches expressed concern about the heat, with Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca calling conditions “impossible” to train in during a “code red” heat warning in Philadelphia.
Cooling breaks were implemented to manage the dangerous heat, and some matches experienced long delays due to lightning, such as the Benfica vs. Chelsea game.
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