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Japan Today
5 days ago
- Climate
- Japan Today
How climate change could force FIFA to rethink the World Cup calendar
FILE - Al Ain's Park Yong-woo splashes his face to cool off during the Club World Cup Group G soccer match between Wydad AC and Al Ain FC in Washington, June 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File) soccer By GRAHAM DUNBAR and SETH BORENSTEIN Soccer had a fierce reckoning with heat at the recently concluded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States — a sweltering preview of what players and fans may face when the U.S. co-hosts the World Cup with Mexico and Canada next summer. With temperatures rising worldwide, scientists warn that staging the World Cup and other soccer tournaments in the Northern Hemisphere summer is getting increasingly dangerous for both players and spectators. Some suggest that FIFA may have to consider adjusting the soccer calendar to reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses. 'The deeper we go in the decade, the greater the risk without considering more dramatic measures, such as playing in the winter months and/or cooler latitudes,' said Prof. Piers Forster, director of the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures in Leeds, England. 'I'm getting increasingly worried that we are only one heatwave away from a sporting tragedy and I would like to see governing bodies lean into the climate and health science.' Tournament soccer in June and July is a tradition going back to the first World Cup in 1930. Since then, the three-month period of June, July and August globally has warmed by 1.05 degrees Celsius (1.89 degrees Fahrenheit), according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Meanwhile, European summer temperatures have increased by 1.81 degrees C. The rate of warming has accelerated since the 1990's. Climate scientists say that's a factor that needs to be considered when playing high-intensity outdoor sports like soccer. 'If you want to play football for 10 hours a day, they'll have to be the hours of the early morning and late evening,' climatologist Friederike Otto from Imperial College, London, told The Associated Press in an email, 'if you don't want to have players and fans die from heatstroke or get severely ill with heat exhaustion.' Extreme heat and thunderstorms made an impact on FIFA's newly expanded tournament for club teams. The Club World Cup was held in 11 American cities from June 14 to July 13. FIFA adapted by tweaking its extreme heat protocol to include extra breaks in play, more field-side water, and cooling the team benches with air fans and more shade. Still, Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández said the heat made him dizzy and urged FIFA to avoid afternoon kickoffs at the World Cup next year. The global soccer players union, FIFPRO, has warned that six of the 16 World Cup cities next year are at 'extremely high risk' for heat stress. FIFA president Gianni Infantino addressed the heat concerns on Saturday, saying the handful of World Cup stadiums that are covered would be used for day-time games next year. Extreme heat could become an even bigger challenge at the following World Cup in 2030, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Games are scheduled to be played in afternoons and early evenings from mid-June to mid-July. All three countries have already seen temperatures rise above 40 degrees C (well above 100 Fahrenheit) this summer. FIFA downplayed the heat risk in its in-house evaluation of the 2030 World Cup bid, saying 'weather conditions are difficult to predict with the current development in global and local climate, but are unlikely to affect the health of players or other participants.' The physical effects of playing 90 minutes of soccer in direct sunshine during the hottest part of the day can be severe and potentially result in hyperthermia – abnormally high body temperatures. 'When players experience hyperthermia, they also experience an increase in cardiovascular strain,' said Julien Périard of the University of Canberra. 'If core temperature increases excessively, exertional heat illness can occur,' leading to muscle cramping, heat exhaustion, and even life-threatening heat stroke, he said. Many sports events held in the summer adjust their start times to early morning or late night to minimize the risk heat-related illness, including marathons at the Olympics or track world championships. Morning kickoffs, however, are rare in soccer, where World Cup match schedules are often set with European TV audiences in mind. It would be hard for FIFA to avoid day-time World Cup kickoffs given the packed match schedule as the number of participating teams increases from 32 to 48 in 2026. Heat mainly becomes an issue when the World Cup is held in the Northern Hemisphere, because June and July are winter months in the Southern Hemisphere. FIFA has stuck to its traditional June-July schedule for the men's World Cup except in 2022 when it moved the tournament to November-December to avoid the summer heat in Qatar. Something similar is expected when neighboring Saudi Arabia hosts the tournament in 2034. However, moving the World Cup to another part of the year is complicated because it means Europe's powerful soccer leagues must interrupt their season, affecting both domestic leagues and the Champions League. FIFA didn't respond to questions from AP about whether alternate dates for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups were being considered. When and where to schedule the World Cup and other outdoor sports events is likely to become more pressing as the world continues to warm. Athletes and even everyday people doing basic physical activities are now exposed to 28% more of moderate or higher heat risk in 2023 than they were in the 1990s, said Ollie Jay, a professor at the University of Sydney who has helped shape policy for the Australian Open in tennis. 'This is symbolic of something bigger,' said Michael Mann, a University of Pennsylvania climate scientist. 'Not just the danger and inconvenience to fans and players, but the fundamentally disruptive nature of climate change when it comes our current way of life.' © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Morocco World
5 days ago
- Sport
- Morocco World
Wydad to Face Qatari Club Al Sadd in Friendly
Wydad AC will take on Qatari champions Al Sadd in a pre-season friendly for the 'Al Ahrar Cup.' The match is scheduled for Sunday, August 10, at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha. Al Sadd confirmed the fixture as part of their summer programme, returning from their training camp in Spain on August 4. This will be Wydad's first outing since the 2025 Club World Cup, as the Casablanca-based side continue preparations for next season, including a campaign in the CAF Confederation Cup. Wydad finished third in the 2024-25 Botola Pro 1. Al Sadd is Qatar's most decorated club, boasting over 50 official titles, including league championships, Emir Cups, and continental trophies. The club attracted worldwide attention under former Barcelona legend Xavi Hernández, who coached the team until late 2024.
Forbes
7 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
What Happened When A U.S. City Hosted A FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Team
Players of Al Ain Football Club wait in the tunnel prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group G ... More match between Wydad AC and Al Ain FC at Audi Field in Washington, DC, on June 26, 2025. (Photo by Stuart Franklin - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) This past January, shortly after being sworn in as Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia, Alyia Gaskins attended a roundtable meeting for officials of cities designated as candidates to host team base camps for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. As she listened to discussions covering the possibilities, preparations, and implications of hosting—and considering Alexandria was only nine miles from matches set for Audi Field in Washington, DC—it became clear to Gaskins that the community needed to start thinking about how to approach the role of being a base camp city. This year's Club World Cup featured thirty-two of the world's top teams competing in a month-long tournament for the championship trophy and a share of the $1 billion prize pool. Matches were held at stadiums in eleven U.S. cities, with each team requiring a separate base camp in a nearby locale that was close to match venues and capable of providing housing, training facilities, and amenities suitable for top-level talent. 'The team that comes to stay with you is looking for a place that feels like home. And it's not just about the team. It's also about the families, friends, and fans,' Gaskins said, recalling the meeting organized by the United States Conference of Mayors. 'Everyone who touches the event needs a place that feels like a home away from home.' FIFA representatives conducted an evaluation process of candidate cities, eventually selecting thirty-four Team Base Camp Training Sites across fourteen states. Alexandria was among those chosen as a base camp destination. Teams then decided their preferred location. 'When I attended the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting, representatives from FIFA talked about the base camp and host city selection process, sharing our proposal with teams, who would then decide where to go,' Gaskins reflected. 'We held in the back of our minds that any team choosing us indicated they saw something in Alexandria. That led to excitement. It didn't have to be the big-name team, just one excited about Alexandria. Now, we have a chance to build community, excitement, and connection.' Al Ain Football Club, one of the most storied and successful teams in the United Arab Emirates, chose Alexandria. Players and staff would stay at a hotel in the city and hold training sessions at Episcopal High School. When city officials received word that Al Ain FC had selected Alexandria, they immediately went online to learn about the club. They quickly discovered its impressive history. Founded in 1968, Al Ain FC has won fourteen Pro League championships, seven President's Cups, and two Asian Champions League titles. In the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup, Al Ain FC defeated Argentine giant River Plate before falling to Spanish superteam Real Madrid in the final. Its Champions League victory last year secured qualification for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Al Ain FC enjoys a strong following in the UAE Pro League and among the several thousand members of the Emirati diaspora living in the U.S. The club and its hometown share a revered sense of community—Al Ain, the 'Garden City,' the UAE's fourth largest city and part of the Abu Dhabi emirate, is the heartland of the nation's founder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Yet, Al Ain FC remains relatively unfamiliar to most casual American soccer fans. While competing in the Club World Cup and in the U.S. offered Al Ain FC access to new audiences and markets, its goals were less concentrated on commercial appeal than community connection. The experience in Alexandria created a clear example of the value that cities and teams can provide to each other, and the power of sport to connect communities across the globe. Mayor Gaskins said that since Al Ain FC's arrival, the city council has received messages from residents, business owners, and community groups sharing their excitement. Residents near the team hotel have been 'telling us how they loved waking up and, when going to get coffee in town, seeing team members get on the team bus or just being able to cheer them on from the neighborhood.' The club's presence and the city's promotions through its Visit Alexandria destination marketing bureau also encouraged residents new to soccer to attend Club World Cup matches in DC. Alexandria, Virginia Mayor Alyia Gaskins (center) speaks during a session celebrating the FIFA Club ... More World Cup 2025 and FIFA World Cup 2026 at the United States Conference of Mayors 93rd Annual Meeting in Tampa, Florida on June 21, 2025. Much of what residents observed and experienced stemmed from daily interactions, Gaskins added. People living, working, and visiting neighborhoods adjacent to the hotel and practice site had more up-close views, catching team members, media, and fans associated with Al Ain FC and the Club World Cup transiting between locations. City agencies providing police escorts, public safety coordination, and other logistical support had more direct engagement with team personnel. Coordination meetings were held from early on to ensure transport and operations were seamless. Still, unforeseen concerns arose. The most notable one was about environmental impacts of team buses idling. 'Some neighbors were concerned, but we addressed it,' Gaskins noted. 'Typically, if that's the biggest complaint and it's solvable, that's manageable.' Beyond immediate operational success, hosting the team also led to longer-term benefits for the local community and its facilities. For Gaskins, one of those benefits related to lights on playing fields. Long-standing concerns among some residents about visual and noise disturbances meant the high school lacked lights on its fields. But night lighting was necessary for the Club World Cup team to practice according to coaches' plans and during cooler dusk hours. So, the school applied to the city council for approval of a special use permit to allow installation of lights and use of the fields into the evening. The application was granted, with sensitivity to residents' concerns. Gaskins said the policy change benefits the city's prospects for hosting major league professional and elite amateur teams in the future, and, at the same time, provides young residents and visitors with opportunities to participate in evening sports. Serving as a team base camp host city requires coordination and cooperation across multiple city departments and community partners. It demands developing and maintaining a welcoming, stable, and supportive home base for the team throughout its run in the competition. Gaskins described the effort as 'a really exciting and creative exercise that brought together staffs' from city government, law enforcement, public health, the Visit Alexandria travel and tourism bureau, Episcopal High School, hotels, restaurants, local businesses, and community organizations. 'At the end of the day, the work of mayors and city officials is about creating good homes and communities where people want to live and stay,' Gaskins noted. That philosophy informed her collaboration with the city manager, city staff, and city council members on positioning Alexandria as a team base camp host. The guiding questions emerged early on in their planning: 'Why is Alexandria the 'home away from home'?,' 'If you are coming to stay in DC, why are we different than DC and what do we have to offer that's special?,' and 'What do we that will take your experience at the Club World Cup to a different level?' These questions led to a pitch focused on practical elements. For example, with regard to transportation, it meant mapping out various modes and routes between Alexandria and DC, including water taxis, Metro trains, public buses, ride-share services like Uber and Lyft, and bike-sharing systems. The city's size also allowed for flexibility when realities called for shutting down streets, re-routing traffic, or adjusting pick-up and drop-off locations. Shops along King Street in the Old Town district of Alexandria, Virginia. (Photo by John ... More Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images) Although Alexandria isn't a small town, some of its neighborhoods offer that kind of feel and sensibility. So, the promotional pitch emphasized places with amenities, shops, and restaurants, such as the walkable Old Town district. It also highlighted how visitors might spend their time outside of match hours, including activities suitable for children and families. Health and safety were also key priorities. Ensuring safe transit for the team between base camp locations and the match venue was an important one. Equally important was assuring residents and visitors that they would be treated in a welcoming and respectful manner, that they were part of the Alexandria community. For Gaskins, the alignment between the city and the sport came into sharper view the more she learned about FIFA, Club World Cup 2025, and World Cup 2026. 'I really only knew one sport—that's American football—because I grew up in Pittsburgh,' she stated, mentioning memories of watching local high school under the Friday night lights and the Pittsburgh Steelers on NFL Sundays, and that her husband played football when he was a student-athlete at the University of Pittsburgh. 'The more I learned, the more interesting it became. My colleagues—many are bigger soccer fans—said this is a movement we want to be part of.' 'We know we are not going to be the site that gets to be the match host city because we don't have those types of facilities. We are a smaller community. But if there is something engaging cities across the country, bringing people from around the world and creating energy, sports, entertainment, joy, and connection, then we want to find a way to be part of that. We want to plug into that bigger movement,' Gaskins continued. This perspective shaped another key part of the city's strategy: exploring how Alexandria could connect not only to DC but also to Club World Cup host cities Philadelphia and New York/New Jersey, both a short train ride, flight, or drive away. Using the Club World Cup as a platform for local and regional collaboration offered an opportunity to showcase what makes these cities special. Even nearby cities not hosting matches or team base camps could benefit from increased visitation. Despite a late group stage win versus Moroccan side Wydad AC, earlier losses to English giants Manchester City and Italian powerhouse Juventus prevented Al Ain FC from advancing into the knockout stage of the Club World Cup. The team departed from Alexandria to the airport soon after what became its final match of the tournament. Nevertheless, Al Ain FC's time in Alexandria resulted in economic development, positive social impacts, and community benefits for the city. Along with these benefits, however, there are the questions that often arise about public investment commitments that hosting entails. As to whether the use of city resources was worthwhile, Gaskins acknowledged concerns that commonly crop up in discussions about any amount of public funding for major sports events. 'Whenever we think about economic development and tourism, we have to consider the totality of the experience,' she said. 'Whether supporting this event, or festivals, or parades, resources must be put forward to make the experience work. But then there are benefits in return.' In general, policymakers often point to those benefits being revealed in the registers of hotel stays, restaurant receipts, and local business revenues. They often delight in the mix of economic impacts through capital investment, operational spending, and tourism activity around sports. But what truly resonates with residents and visitors are the social impacts and community benefits—how and why a team being in town makes it a better place in which to live, work, and play. Recognizing and understanding this broader impact is something well worth focusing on as the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 wraps up and the FIFA World Cup 2026 ramps up. Through partnership, cooperation, and community development, team base camp cities play a crucial role in these festivals of sport. The example of Alexandria and Al Ain offers valuable guidance.
Morocco World
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Mokwena Takes Charge of Algerian Side
Former Wydad AC Rhulani Mokwena has been appointed head coach of Algerian outfit MC Alger, replacing Tunisian Khaled Ben Yahia. The club confirmed the South African's arrival on their Facebook page last night. Mokwena, 38, endured a difficult spell with Wydad following his move from Mamelodi Sundowns, finishing the season trophyless. Under his tenure, Wydad played 35 matches, registering 11 wins, 12 draws, and four defeats. He succeeded Ben Yahia, who led Mc Alger to a domestic double last season after winning the Algerian Ligue 1 title with 58 points and the Algerian Super Cup. The club also reached the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League under his guidance. MC Alger will compete in the CAF Champions League this season, and the expectations are high for Mokwena to lead the team to an honourable performance. This move was largely welcomed by the club's supporters: 'Good luck to him in coaching one of the pillars of Algeria's clubs. I hope Algerian clubs return to honouring us and shining on the African continent,' one user wrote on Facebook. Another added: 'A great coach with great competence. He is a coach with strong ideas in the world of football.' Details of Mokwena's contract have not yet been disclosed. Tags: AlgeriaMC AlgerRhulani MokwenaSouth Africa
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pep Guardiola responds to Jurgen Klopp's criticism of FIFA Club World Cup
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has responded to Jurgen Klopp over his criticism of the FIFA Club World Cup. The Catalan tactician and his players now have their first-ever experience of the newly-expanded Club World Cup under their belt, but not with the outcome they would have hoped for having progressed through the group stage. Advertisement Manchester City established themselves as the only side to win all three of their group fixtures by dismissing of Wydad AC, Al Ain, and Juventus, securing themselves what initially appeared to be a more favourable last-16 tie. However, the clash with Saudi Pro League giants Al Hilal proved to be far from straightforward, with City shipping four goals and scoring just three of their own across 120 minutes of action at the Camping World Stadium. City's early exit from the competition now gives them six weeks before their opening Premier League match, after doubts coming into the tournament centred around a potentially limited recovery time from a Final through until the opening weekend of the English top-flight. Speaking around Manchester City's eventual 3-4 defeat to Al Hilal after extra-time on Monday night, Pep Guardiola came out with a somewhat supportive message for comments issued by Jurgen Klopp criticising the FIFA Club World Cup. Advertisement The former Liverpool manager had told German newspaper Welt am Sonntag on the summer tournament Stateside, 'It's all about the game and not the surrounding events – and that's why the Club World Cup is the worst idea ever implemented in football in this regard. 'People who have never had or do not have anything to do with day-to-day business anymore are coming up with something. There is insane money for participating, but it's also not for every club.' The German football coach continued, 'Last year it was the Copa [America] and the European Championship, this year it's the Club World Cup, and next year the World Cup. That means no real recovery for the players involved, neither physically nor mentally.' Offering his own response to a figure he faced off across the course of many years in England, Pep Guardiola said, 'We fought together many, many times. Advertisement 'I know where this idea comes from; we fought a lot in England when we went to UEFA meetings, especially the Premier League, to decide the calendar and try to go more quality. 'When the players and managers rest, you have more quality,' the City coach continued. 'It didn't surprise me a lot, and I understand him and respect him, we have an incredible relation for many years when we were rivals, and I understand his argument – I would defend as well! 'But at the same time, we are in a job and follow FIFA, UEFA, Premier League, Serie A, every competition… The managers are not going to organise the competitions! Everyone has his own role, people organise this competition.' Issuing the seriousness in which the tournament is being taken by clubs in the knockout rounds in particular, Guardiola said of his Manchester City side, 'Once we're here, we're so proud because many, many teams complain about this competition because they're not here! Advertisement 'Otherwise they would love to be here; their media [coming] here, their supporters here, income in terms of money, and they would be happy to be here.' However, the 54-year-old clarified, 'Of course it's not an ideal situation for managers, I'd love to have two months until next season, to refresh. But it is what it is! And we deserve for what we've done in the past to be here. Once we are here, let's do our best as possible!' Manchester City's players will now be handed around four weeks away from City Football Academy duties before resuming training ahead of the start of the brand new Premier League season. The new campaign will begin with a trip to Molineux to face Wolves, in what will also be the first reunion between Vitor Pereira's side and Rayan Ait-Nouri following the Algerian's big-money move to the Etihad Stadium this summer.
