World Cup 2026 faces disruption from heat, storms and wildfire smoke
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 10
World Cup 2026 faces disruption from heat, storms and wildfire smoke
16 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 10
Fifa has introduced mandatory three-minute cooling breaks, while a 2025 study found 14 of 16 host locations could exceed a key elite-athlete heat-stress threshold.
Miami, Houston, Dallas, Monterrey, Kansas City and Atlanta could face extreme afternoon heat, and lightning within 10 miles of US stadiums would stop play for at least 30 minutes.
An early US wildfire season and no fixed Fifa air-quality cutoff add uncertainty, while delays or evacuations could disrupt transport, hotel bookings and late-night viewing schedules.
With record heat and travel fatigue looming, are FIFA's new player safety measures truly enough?
Is the 48-team, three-nation World Cup an unsustainable model in an era of extreme climate change?
How will cities protect millions from extreme weather without promised federal security and logistics funds?