The heat at the World Cup in North America will exceed safe playing conditions for several matches
An analysis by World Weather Attribution shows that players and fans face a much higher risk of extreme heat and humidity at the 2026 FIFA World Cup—to be held from June 11 to July 19 in North America—compared to the 1994 tournament held on the same continent. The report analyzes the likelihood that each of the 104 matches to be played in Canada, the United States, and Mexico will meet the safety guidelines set by the FIFPRO players’ union. Nearly a quarter of the matches will be played when conditions exceed a wet-bulb temperature of 26°C—an index that measures the body’s ability to cool itself—which requires cooling breaks. In addition, five matches will exceed the 28°C threshold for this indicator—equivalent to 38°C in dry heat—a limit set by FIFPRO for postponing matches.
