Heat Crisis Threatens Quarter of 2026 World Cup

Rising global temperatures are doubling the probability of extreme heat events at 2026 FIFA World Cup venues, with about 25% of matches likely to exceed FIFPro's thermal safety thresholds. This threatens player and fan health, requiring FIFA to implement emergency cooling protocols or reschedule affected matches. The research underscores how climate change is directly reshaping major sporting events and raising urgent questions about tournament viability in increasingly hot regions.