Climate researchers warn of ‘extreme heat’ at 10 of the 2026 World Cup stadia – Inside World Football

November 29 – Researchers at the Wrocław University of Health and Sport Sciences in Poland have warned that footballers face a “very high risk of experiencing extreme heat stress” at 10 of the 16 stadiums that will host the 2026 World Cup.
The co-author of the research paper, Marek Konefał, said: “It is worth rethinking the calendar of sporting events now.”
In the summer of 2026 players could be forced to play in temperatures of 49.5C (121.1F). The stadiums considered at the most risk of “unacceptable thermal stress” are found in Dallas (AT&T Stadium), Houston (NGR Stadium), and Estadio BBVA in Monterrey.
FIFA currently recommends cooling breaks if the ‘wet bulb’ temperature exceeds 32C, however, scientists are concerned that the metric underestimates the stress athletes experience on the pitch because it considers only external heat and humidity.
“During intense physical activity, huge amounts of heat is produced by the work of the player’s muscles,” said Katarzyna Lindner-Cendrowska, a climate scientist at the Polish Academy of Sciences and lead author of the study. “[This] will increase the overall heat load on the athlete’s body.”
Upon analysing data, they found the greatest stress would strike between 2pm, and 5pm at all but one of the stadiums.
The increased heat on the earth has been firmly established to be man-made, and with rich irony, the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is sponsored by Saudi Arabia’s Aramco, the world’s biggest oil producer. With the 2034 World Cup seemingly destined for Saudi Arabia, Gianni Infantino’s statement that he was “delighted” to welcome Aramco to FIFA’s family of global partners may come back to haunt him.
Thessa Beck, a climate and health researcher at ISGlobal, who was not involved in the study, said it was also “essential” to keep fans safe. “Even though fans may not be as physically active as players, many are older adults, young children or individuals with pre-existing conditions.”
After all, it’s the fans that keep the FIFA cash tills turning.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1732859796labto1732859796ofdlr1732859796owedi1732859796sni@o1732859796fni1732859796
 


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