Geneva: The recently concluded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States highlighted the significant heat challenges that soccer players and fans may face during the upcoming 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. With global temperatures rising, scientists are increasingly concerned about the dangers of staging major soccer tournaments in the Northern Hemisphere summer.

Historically, the World Cup has been held in June and July since 1930. However, these months globally have warmed by 1.05°C (1.89°F), with European summers seeing an even more drastic increase of 1.81°C, particularly since the 1990s. Experts like Prof. Piers Forster of the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures warn that without "more dramatic measures, such as playing in the winter months and/or cooler latitudes," a "sporting tragedy" due to heat is a real risk. Climatologist Friederike Otto from Imperial College, London, also emphasised the need for early morning or late evening play to prevent heatstroke and severe heat exhaustion.

The recent Club World Cup, held from June 14 to July 13 in 11 American cities, experienced extreme heat and thunderstorms. While FIFA implemented adaptations like extra water breaks, more field-side water, and cooling benches, players like Chelsea's Enzo Fernández still reported dizziness and urged FIFA to avoid afternoon kickoffs for the upcoming World Cup. FIFPRO, the global soccer players' union, has identified six of the 16 World Cup cities next year as being at "extremely high risk" for heat stress. FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that covered stadiums would be utilised for daytime games.

The 2030 World Cup, co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, presents an even greater heat challenge, with games scheduled for mid-June to mid-July in countries that have already experienced temperatures exceeding 40°C (100°F) this summer. Despite this, FIFA's evaluation of the 2030 bid downplayed the heat risk, stating it was "unlikely to affect the health of players or other participants."

Playing 90 minutes of soccer in direct sunshine during the hottest part of the day can lead to severe health issues like hyperthermia, increased cardiovascular strain, and exertional heat illness, including muscle cramping, heat exhaustion, and life-threatening heat stroke, as explained by Julien Périard of the University of Canberra.

While many summer sports events, such as Olympic marathons, adjust start times to avoid peak heat, morning kickoffs are rare in soccer, often due to European TV audience considerations. The expanded 2026 World Cup with 48 teams will also make it difficult for FIFA to avoid daytime kickoffs due to the packed schedule.

Heat is primarily a concern when the World Cup is held in the Northern Hemisphere's summer. FIFA notably moved the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to November-December to avoid summer heat, and a similar adjustment is anticipated for the 2034 tournament in Saudi Arabia. However, altering the World Cup calendar is complex as it disrupts powerful European soccer leagues and their domestic and Champions League schedules. FIFA has not commented on whether alternative dates for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups are being considered.

The increasing global temperatures mean that the question of when and where to schedule major outdoor sporting events will become increasingly pressing. Ollie Jay, a professor at the University of Sydney, notes that athletes and even everyday individuals faced 28 per cent more moderate or higher heat risk in 2023 compared to the 1990s. Michael Mann, a University of Pennsylvania climate scientist, sees this as "symbolic of something bigger," highlighting the "fundamentally disruptive nature of climate change when it comes to our current way of life."

With inputs from AP