Guardian Finds 20 World Cup Matches Breached Heat Safety Thresholds Across 104 Games
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 16
Guardian Finds 20 World Cup Matches Breached Heat Safety Thresholds Across 104 Games
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 16
Summary
Nearly 20 of the World Cup’s 104 matches were played at estimated wet bulb globe temperatures of 28C or higher — the level at which players’ union Fifpro says games should be delayed or postponed.
Another 23 matches took place in host cities that hit those heat levels, but air-conditioned stadiums reduced on-field exposure; the analysis used temperature and humidity data for 102 completed matches and two forecasts.
Philadelphia’s France-Paraguay match on 4 July was the hottest in a non-air-conditioned venue, with WBGT possibly reaching 33.9C, while every match in Dallas, Houston and Miami appears to have breached that threshold.
The findings land as more than 125 million Americans face dangerous heat alerts, and Sunday’s final near New York could also be affected by wildfire smoke even if WBGT stays just under 26C.
Researchers and climate officials said the tournament shows heat is becoming a structural scheduling and safety problem for football, with risks extending beyond players to spectators, volunteers and stadium staff.
As extreme heat endangers players, is the World Cup's global summer format becoming fundamentally unsustainable?
Why do FIFA's heat safety rules ignore stricter guidelines from scientists and the players' own union?
Wet Bulb Globe Temperature and the 2026 World Cup: How Extreme Heat Is Forcing a Rethink of Global Sports Safety
Overview
The 2026 FIFA World Cup faced serious challenges as extreme heat and humidity put players and fans at risk, with nine group stage matches played under dangerous conditions. Scientists warned that about a quarter of all matches could threaten health, highlighting how climate change is making such events more frequent and intense. The global players’ union called for heat to be a bigger factor in scheduling. To measure these risks, experts recommend using the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which gives a more accurate picture than the Heat Index, especially in direct sunlight. These issues show the urgent need for better safety measures in global sports.