Research predicts 25% of 2026 World Cup games will be dangerously hot for athletes

An World Weather Attribution survey released this Thursday shows that approximately a quarter of Copa’s Mundo 2026 games will be played under hot conditions considered dangerous for players and fans. The analysis reveals that the thermal risk increased significantly compared to the 1994 tournament, also held at América and Norte.

The researchers identified that at least 25% of matches will exceed 26°C of Temperatura, Bulbo Úmido and Globo (WBGT), an indicator that measures thermal stress on the human body during exercise in direct sunlight. In even more critical scenarios, five games must exceed 28°C, a level considered unsafe by FIFPRO, the organization that represents professional players globally.

What is the WBGT index and how does it work

The WBGT takes into account multiple atmospheric variables to calculate the true risk of extreme heat. Administração Nacional Oceânica and Atmosférica of Estados Unidos (NOAA) use this indicator considering:

• Temperatura from the air
• Umidade relative
• Velocidade of the wind
• Ângulo solar
• Cloud Cobertura

Chris Mullington, professor at Imperial College London and collaborator of the study, highlights that above 26°C athletes’ performance is already compromised. Quando the index exceeds 28°C, the risk of serious heat-related illnesses intensifies not only for the players, but also for hundreds of thousands of fans present in the stadiums.

Cidades more reviews and risks by location

Miami tops the risk ranking, with an almost certain probability of intense heat in all matches played in the city. Brasil will be directly affected: the match against Escócia, valid for the third round, will take place precisely at Miami under these adverse conditions.

Kansas City, in Missouri, also presents significant risk. The research shows that the Holanda x Tunísia game has a 7% chance of exceeding the 28°C limit, which according to FIFPRO guidelines should lead to the match being postponed.

No Texas, Dallas and Houston register more than 30% probability of scoring WBGT above 28°C outside the arenas, even with air-conditioned stadiums. The Copa final, scheduled for Nova Iorque and Nova Jersey, also faces concerns. The risk of disruption from extreme temperatures has increased by about 50% since 1994 in the region.

Friederike Otto, Professora of Ciência of Clima in Imperial College London, warns that the fact that the final itself faces the non-negligible risk of being played in extreme heat serves as an urgent warning about the effects of climate change on global events.

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Medidas protection adopted by Fifa

In December 2025, the entity announced the implementation of two hydration breaks in all games, regardless of location or temperature. Cada pause will last three minutes, distributed one in each half of the match.

Manolo Zubiria, Torneios US Director for Copa 2026, explained the initiative: “In all matches, regardless of venue, stadium coverage or temperature, there will be a three-minute hydration break. Serão three minutes from the opening whistle to the final whistle in both halves.”

The break allows the athletes’ body temperature to reduce, relieving cardiovascular overload and allowing minimal recovery during the game. Pesquisadores emphasize that constant hydration is essential for both players and spectators exposed to prolonged periods of heat.

Consequências Physiological Exercise in Extreme Heat

Quando athletes practice intense exercise under high temperatures, multiple harmful effects can occur. The most common manifestations include heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Initial Sinais such as muscle weakness or dizziness may seem harmless, but they represent alerts from the body.

Thermal exhaustion occurs when excessive loss of salts and liquids occurs due to continuous heat. Neste state, symptoms include dizziness, feeling of imminent fainting, poor motor coordination, fatigue, headache, blurred vision, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting. Heatstroke, the most serious condition, occurs when body temperature exceeds 40°C, with a potential risk of neurological impairment and seizures. Especialistas warn that in these situations hydration is absolutely essential to prevent permanent damage to the body.

WWA researchers point out that climate change caused by human activity has made these conditions significantly more likely over the years, measurably increasing the risks to human health in large-scale events.