Almost a fifth of the matches of the 2026 World Cup took place in dangerous heat for football players

The 2026 World Cup was accompanied by extreme weather conditions: almost every fifth match of the tournament was held at a temperature that, according to the recommendations of the football players' union FIFPro, could be the reason for the postponement or temporary suspension of the game. This is reported by The media. According to the calculations of the British publication, approximately 20 matches took place with a heat load index of WBGT not lower than 28°C - this indicator is defined by FIFPro as critical for holding football matches. Another 23 meetings took place in cities with similar weather conditions, but in stadiums equipped with air conditioning systems. The worst conditions in the outdoor arena were recorded during the France-Paraguay match in Philadelphia, where the temperature reached 38°C and the estimated WBGT reading could exceed 33.9°C. The highest temperature overall was recorded during the match between Argentina and Austria in Dallas, although it was held in a covered and air-conditioned stadium. FIFA said it used a meteorological monitoring system during the tournament, introduced mandatory hydration breaks and provided teams with water, ice, cooling towels, fans and special cooling areas. At the same time, FIFPro emphasized that due to climate change, the issue of high temperatures will increasingly affect the calendar of international tournaments and the timing of matches.