Reacción a "The heat at the World Cup in North America will exceed safe playing conditions for several matches"

The international initiative World Weather Attribution (WWA) has so far worked on quantifying the impact of climate change on extreme weather events and their consequences (primarily relating to extreme rainfall and temperatures, and wildfires) in real time. This study is novel because:

1. It looks ahead to a future event, namely the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
2. It explores an indicator that combines temperature and humidity, both of which affect the human body’s ability to regulate its internal temperature through perspiration and heat exchange.
3. It estimates how extreme heat stress conditions have changed due to anthropogenic climate change.

Approximately 25% of all matches are likely to be played when conditions exceed a threshold of the indicator studied here, at which the global players’ union (FIFPRO) recommends that matches should include breaks to allow players to cool down. In as many as 5% of matches, a threshold will be exceeded at which conditions are considered unsafe for play and postponement is recommended. Of course, all this refers to open-air stadiums and not to enclosed stadiums with air conditioning, although in the latter cases, related activities outdoors and during transport may also adversely affect spectators.

This study highlights and helps to communicate the importance of anthropogenic climate change in increasing the intensity and frequency of heat-related extremes, and the need to adopt adaptation measures in order to maintain certain activities.