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Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
'Heat danger' warning about 2026 World Cup venues
The temperatures at 14 of the 16 stadiums being used for the 2026 World Cup could exceed potentially dangerous levels during the tournament, researchers have warned. Kick-off times for the tournament, which is being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico in June and July, have not been announced. But world governing body Fifa is being urged to avoid afternoon games at six of the locations with the highest heat risk and no indoor air conditioning. Research led by Queen's University Belfast used 20 years of meteorological data to show how hot the host stadiums get during an average summer, using a 'wet bulb globe temperature' (WBGT) - which is a measure of heat stress combining heat and humidity. Mexico City and Vancouver are the only host cities where the temperature has not passed the potentially dangerous WBGT threshold of 28C. In four cities, the WBGT could reach the more dangerous threshold of 32C. In an average year, more than 80% of June and July days exceed 28C in Dallas, Houston and Miami. In those cities, the WBGT exceeds 26C by 10am on more than 50% of June and July days, and it remains above that threshold until 8pm more than 50% of the time. "Early morning or late evening would be best at most locations," climate scientist Dr Donal Mullan, who led the research, told BBC Sport. "But if I were to deliver a message to Fifa, I would say to avoid the afternoons, from midday to 6pm. That would massively reduce the risk of extreme heat." BBC Sport has contacted Fifa for comment on the report. Could climate crisis impact the 2026 World Cup? Sport 2050: A World Cup like no other? The global average temperature has risen markedly since 1980, with 2024 the first year to be more than 1.5C above the pre-industrial average. The previous World Cup - held in Qatar in 2022 - was moved from June and July, when temperatures regularly exceed 40C and can reach 50C in Doha, to November and December in order to protect players and fans. The report says the 2026 tournament risks seeing games played at "the level beyond which some football governing bodies recommend match delay or postponement". The heat policy of Football Australia, for example, states a match may be delayed or postponed when the WBGT reaches 28C. However, Fifa's guidelines say mandatory cooling breaks are provided in each half as a mitigation strategy, with a delay or postponement at the discretion of match organisers. World players' union Fifpro believes Fifa's guidelines "do not do enough to protect the health and performance of players". It recommends cooling breaks when the WBGT is between 28C and 32C, and for games to be rescheduled above 32C. The result of playing in such conditions range from small performance-impacting issues such as sleep disruption and late changes to event timings, to severe health impacts such as heat-related stress and injury. It is not just players who can be affected. During last year's Copa America, Guatemalan assistant referee Humberto Panjoj had to be withdrawn from a game in Kansas City after collapsing on the field when the WBGT was calculated to be 27.5C. Dr Mullan says Miami and Monterrey "could pose the greatest risk" as they do not have air-conditioned stadiums. The report suggests afternoon games be avoided in Kansas City, Boston, New York and Philadelphia too. Although the hottest two host cities - Dallas and Houston - do have air conditioning, there is still a risk to spectators if games are played in the afternoon, Dr Mullan said. "They will go back out into the soaring heat so there's a risk for spectators as well as the players and match officials," he added. The research findings have been published in The International Journal of Biometeorology. Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast Get football news sent straight to your phone
BBC News
29-01-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
'Heat danger' warning about 2026 World Cup venues
The temperatures at 14 of the 16 stadiums being used for the 2026 World Cup could exceed potentially dangerous levels during the tournament, researchers have times for the tournament, which is being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico in June and July, have not been world governing body Fifa is being urged to avoid afternoon games at six of the locations with the highest heat risk and no indoor air led by Queen's University Belfast used 20 years of meteorological data to show how hot the host stadiums get during an average summer, using a 'wet bulb globe temperature' (WBGT) - which is a measure of heat stress combining heat and City and Vancouver are the only host cities where the temperature has not passed the potentially dangerous WBGT threshold of 28C. In four cities, the WBGT could reach the more dangerous threshold of an average year, more than 80% of June and July days exceed 28C in Dallas, Houston and those cities, the WBGT exceeds 26C by 10am on more than 50% of June and July days, and it remains above that threshold until 8pm more than 50% of the time."Early morning or late evening would be best at most locations," climate scientist Dr Donal Mullan, who led the research, told BBC Sport."But if I were to deliver a message to Fifa, I would say to avoid the afternoons, from midday to 6pm. That would massively reduce the risk of extreme heat."BBC Sport has contacted Fifa for comment on the report. The global average temperature has risen markedly since 1980, with 2024 the first year to be more than 1.5C above the pre-industrial previous World Cup - held in Qatar in 2022 - was moved from June and July, when temperatures regularly exceed 40C and can reach 50C in Doha, to November and December in order to protect players and report says the 2026 tournament risks seeing games played at "the level beyond which some football governing bodies recommend match delay or postponement".The heat policy of Football Australia, for example, states a match may be delayed or postponed when the WBGT reaches Fifa's guidelines say mandatory cooling breaks are provided in each half as a mitigation strategy, with a delay or postponement at the discretion of match players' union Fifpro, external believes Fifa's guidelines "do not do enough to protect the health and performance of players".It recommends cooling breaks when the WBGT is between 28C and 32C, and for games to be rescheduled above result of playing in such conditions range from small performance-impacting issues such as sleep disruption and late changes to event timings, to severe health impacts such as heat-related stress and is not just players who can be affected. During last year's Copa America, Guatemalan assistant referee Humberto Panjoj had to be withdrawn, external from a game in Kansas City after collapsing on the field when the WBGT was calculated to be Mullan says Miami and Monterrey "could pose the greatest risk" as they do not have air-conditioned report suggests afternoon games be avoided in Kansas City, Boston, New York and Philadelphia the hottest two host cities - Dallas and Houston - do have air conditioning, there is still a risk to spectators if games are played in the afternoon, Dr Mullan said."They will go back out into the soaring heat so there's a risk for spectators as well as the players and match officials," he research findings have been published in The International Journal of Biometeorology., external
New York Times
29-01-2025
- Climate
- New York Times
2026 World Cup matches could be subject to ‘dangerous heat', study says
A study has recommended that kick-off times at the 2026 men's World Cup in North America should be scheduled outside of afternoon hours to protect players and supporters from 'potentially dangerous levels of heat.' Research by Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland states that 14 out of the 16 stadiums hosting games at the tournament could see 'wet bulb globe temperatures' (WBGT) exceed the 'potentially dangerous' threshold of 28°C (82.4°F). Up to nine venues could experience this temperature half the time in a 'hot summer.' According to the study, four stadiums could reach a 'more dangerous' level of 32°C (89.6°F). A WBGT is a measurement that indicates the level of heat stress that humans will face in direct sunlight. It is calculated from relevant factors such as air temperature, humidity, wind speed and cloud cover. FIFPRO, the global players' association for professional footballers, recommends that if there is a WBGT between 28°C and 32°C, cooling breaks should take place in matches around the 30th minute and 75th minute. If it exceeds 32°C, it recommends that training and matches should be rescheduled. FIFA's policy is for mandatory cooling breaks in both halves if the WBGT is above 32°C. The study says that 20 years of meteorological data were used to predict summer temperatures in 2026 and found that 'levels of extreme heat reduce greatly at all host stadiums' outside of afternoon hours. 'After analysing 20 years of data, our modelling shows that high temperatures are extremely likely, and these will have a major impact on players,' said Queen's University's Dr Donal Mullan. 'We can see that afternoons are the peak time for higher temperatures, regardless of whether 2026 turns out to be an average or hot summer. Advertisement 'To protect players, and spectators, organisers must rethink the timing of games. The best solution would be rescheduling kick-off times outside the hottest afternoon hours for the locations with highest temperatures, especially those without air conditioning. This is primarily Miami and Monterrey, but also Philadelphia, Kansas City, Boston and New York.' FIFA has not yet released the kick-off times for matches at the 2026 World Cup, but has said that the last four matchdays of the group stage will feature six matches per day, with matches in the same group taking place at the same time to 'maintain the integrity of the competition.' All other group-stage matchdays will have four matches per day across four different kick-off times. FIFA consider a range of factors when scheduling matches, including sustainability, TV audiences, logistics and player welfare. At the 2022 tournament in Qatar — which was moved to the winter months due to high temperatures in the summer — matches kicked off at 1pm, 4pm, 7pm and 1opm local time (5am, 8am, 11am and 2pm ET; 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm GMT). In 2024, a FIFA spokesperson told The Athletic: 'We have studied extensive historical weather data throughout our planning efforts and continue to monitor the weather trends ahead of 2026. 'As noted during the schedule announcement earlier this year, FIFA will seek to increase the prospect of favorable playing and spectating conditions for teams and fans (considering such factors like heat forecasts, for example) via kick-off times, which will be added following the final draw near the end of 2025.' Heat has caused issues at tournaments in the United States before. On June 23 at the 2024 Copa America, Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo was forced to leave the field during his team's 3-1 win over Panama at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium after he reported feeling dizzy and his blood pressure had dropped. Advertisement 'The truth is I'm still a bit dizzy now,' said Araujo, who plays his club football for Barcelona. 'My (blood) pressure went down. When the first half finished, I was a bit dizzy and when I reached the dressing room, my pressure went down. The doctor said it was a bit of dehydration and I couldn't continue for the second half.' Two days later, assistant referee Humberto Panjoj collapsed during the match between Canada and Peru at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City after being positioned on the side of the field in the direct sun and was stretchered off. Panjoj was taken to hospital and discharged a day later with what tournament organisers CONMEBOL described as dehydration. Kick-off times at the Copa America — which ran from June 20 to July 14 at 14 venues across the United States — were at 6pm, 7pm, 8pm and 9pm ET (11pm, 12am, 1am and 2am GMT). Other sporting events, such as Major League Baseball games, take place outdoors throughout the American summer. In October, the NFL's San Francisco 49ers changed uniform colors to prepare for high temperatures at Levi's Stadium. The World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and will be held across 11 stadiums in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada. GO DEEPER Everything you need to know about the 2026 World Cup:
