UNFCCC report shows that rising temperatures threaten players and fans.

On Monday, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) stated that the arrival of a heat wave in the United States this weekend will trigger a rise in temperatures that puts the 2026 World Cup final at risk of extreme heat.

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Climate change is driving extreme weather events and heat waves around the world, the effects of which have become evident during the World Cup group stage.

In the matches between Saudi Arabia and Uruguay and Sweden and Tunisia, for example, temperatures exceeded 82.4 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius), the threshold above which FIFPRO, the professional football players’ union, recommends postponing or delaying matches.

The UNFCCC report also cited the two-hour suspension of the group-stage match between France and Iraq because of a lightning storm, marking the first time weather has disrupted the normal course of a World Cup since 1974.

The heat is not “normal” because additional factors must be considered. The UNFCCC therefore uses the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), an indicator that measures actual heat stress on the human body by combining temperature, humidity, wind, and solar radiation.

Twenty-five matches played so far have taken place on days when climate change increased the likelihood of elevated wet-bulb globe temperatures.

In fact, the heat wave expected to reach the United States this weekend will put the tournament final (New York/New Jersey), two quarterfinal matches and the third-place match at risk because of high wet-bulb globe temperatures, the UNFCCC said, adding that 26 out of 104 matches are scheduled to be played under “extreme heat” conditions.

It also pointed out that 97 out of 104 scheduled matches face an increased likelihood of encountering “conditions that affect performance.”

“It is hot for the players, for the fans, for everyone. It is climate change. The planet is warming after more than a century of burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas. That traps heat in the atmosphere. And now we are feeling it everywhere,” UNFCCC Secretary Simon Stiell said.

Heat Does Not Only Affect Players

Climate change is making extreme heat more frequent, more intense, and more dangerous, the UNFCCC report said, primarily because of the continued burning of coal, oil and gas, which adds heat-trapping pollution to the atmosphere.

On the opening day alone, more than 100 people required medical attention for heat-related illnesses, and four of them were hospitalized.

Players have access to medical teams at all times, the report said, while fans contend with extreme temperatures, crowds outside stadiums and on public transportation.

Host cities in the southern and inland United States and Mexico are generally more exposed, and outdoor venues such as Miami, Kansas City and Philadelphia show a sharp increase in the likelihood of reaching dangerous heat thresholds, creating inequalities for teams throughout the tournament.

FIFA Downplays the Issue

On Tuesday, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) responded to the UNFCCC’s claims by saying it had carried out “a comprehensive preparation process” for the 2026 World Cup, including an analysis of extreme weather conditions.

The federation said it developed the tournament schedule “taking into account the local climate profiles and the infrastructure of the 16 host venues.” It also said measures to mitigate extreme heat situations have already been adopted.

“The schedule was developed taking climate conditions into account. The match schedule balances sporting, operational and broadcast requirements while minimizing travel, maximizing rest days, and considering the local climate profiles and venue infrastructure, based on FIFA’s comprehensive heat risk assessment conducted at each location,” it said.

FIFA said it strategically limited outdoor matches during the hottest hours of the day, adjusted kickoff times in certain markets and, “where possible,” prioritized covered stadiums for matches scheduled during the warmest time slots.

In addition, it created “a dedicated working group for the mitigation and management of heat-related illnesses, made up of medical and operational experts,” which developed standardized guidelines for risk alert situations and harmonized medical action plans for stadiums.

FIFA said it monitors weather conditions in real time by integrating wet-bulb globe temperature and heat index monitoring, and that it is prepared to implement contingency protocols for extreme weather events.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: UNFCCC – EFE – Xinhua

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