An analysis has revealed that two of the opening round matches in the World Cup took place under severe heat conditions, prompting concerns from a players’ union regarding the appropriateness of such circumstances for play. This assessment comes from a detailed examination of the initial 24 matches of the tournament, hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
In addition to the two highlighted matches, four others unfolded in cities where temperatures exceeded the critical heat threshold. Fortunately, air conditioning within the stadiums helped mitigate the extreme conditions to some extent.
The match between Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Miami recorded the highest heat levels, while the game between Sweden and Tunisia in Monterrey followed closely behind in terms of severe heat. These evening matches were played under wet-bulb temperatures reaching 28°C (82°F) or higher, based on the temperature and humidity data collected from the venues.
Fifpro, the international players’ union, has previously asserted that games should be postponed if temperatures reach 28°C or above. When approached for comment regarding the current situation at the World Cup, the organization chose not to respond. This tournament is anticipated to be the hottest since the World Cup’s inception in 1930.
Wet-bulb temperatures are a critical measure of heat stress, factoring in air temperature, humidity, and cloud cover to assess how effectively the human body can cool itself through sweating. If the combination of heat and humidity surpasses a specific threshold, the body’s ability to cool down can falter, potentially leading to serious health issues or fatalities.
The analysis utilized weather data from government sources in both the United States and the United Kingdom, calculating wet-bulb temperatures using a formula recognized by various countries, including Australia and Canada.
In light of the sweltering North American summer, FIFA adjusted some match times to later in the day and mandated water breaks. A few of the tournament’s 16 venues feature roofs or air conditioning, which has lessened the impact of the high temperatures.
For instance, England faced Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday, experiencing the highest wet-bulb temperatures so far at nearly 35°C (95°F). However, the air conditioning inside the stadium reduced the effective temperature to a more manageable 22°C (71°F).
Out of the first 24 matches, six were contested in locations where wet-bulb temperatures hit 28°C or above. These include Germany versus Curacao in Houston, Saudi Arabia against Uruguay in Miami, Portugal against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Houston, the Netherlands versus Japan in Dallas, and England against Croatia, also in Dallas. The Houston stadium is equipped with air conditioning.
Record-high temperatures have left some fans struggling in the unshaded heat, raising alarms about the safety of stadium workers, who often work long hours in demanding conditions before the games.
Current FIFA guidelines stipulate that cooling breaks should be implemented when temperatures reach 32°C (89°F) or higher. However, in practice, these breaks have been observed at lower temperatures throughout this World Cup, with the discretion to delay or halt matches resting with the competition organizers.
As the World Cup approached, a coalition of heat and public health experts urged FIFA in an open letter to enhance heat protection measures, citing Fifpro’s recommendation for games to potentially be suspended when temperatures reach 28°C or above.
“Temperatures are often taken from shaded areas and if players are in direct sun, it can be double figures more than the temperature readings,” said Robbie Parks, an environmental epidemiologist at Columbia University and a signatory of the open letter. “Standing in the sun can be dangerous even at lower temperatures, even above 23C (73F) or 25C (77F) would make me concerned for older adults out there for more than few minutes.”
Parks emphasized that while air conditioning, later kick-off times, and water breaks will benefit players, additional measures are necessary for the safety of fans and workers. “Shade is super important and hydration is super important,” he stated.
“You need to allow people to bring in their own water and think about having misters for evaporative cooling. The final is going to be held in New Jersey, and that stadium isn’t covered which makes me worry. But I’d hope Fifa will learn the best way to deal with that by then.”
Extreme heat is recognized as the deadliest hazard exacerbated by climate change, causing more fatalities each year than hurricanes, floods, and wildfires combined. The World Cup itself is expected to contribute to the global carbon footprint, with estimates suggesting that over 100 matches could result in 7.8 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, double the emissions from the previous World Cup held in Qatar, according to data from Greenly, a carbon accounting platform.
A FIFA representative affirmed that the organization is “committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers and staff” involved in the World Cup. FIFA has deployed meteorologists to match venues to prepare for extreme weather and has coordinated closely with host city organizers, stadium authorities, and national agencies.
Prior to the tournament, FIFA established a “activate additional cooling capacity, including shaded areas, misting systems, cooling buses and expanded water distribution” for extreme temperatures, where additional measures would be enacted at different temperature thresholds. For players, this includes mandatory hydration breaks, access to water and electrolyte drinks, and other cooling aids such as ice, cold towels, fans, mist, and shade.
For spectators, elevated temperatures necessitate that match stadiums “continue to monitor conditions in real time, integrating wet bulb globe temperature and heat index surveillance, and stands ready to apply established contingency protocols should extreme weather events occur” as indicated by the FIFA spokesperson.
A medical protocol for managing heat-related exertion has also been introduced, with cooling bags set to be utilized for the first time during this tournament.
FIFA added that it will “continue to monitor conditions in real time, integrating wet bulb globe temperature and heat index surveillance, and stands ready to apply established contingency protocols should extreme weather events occur.”
