A group of world-leading scientists has warned FIFA that current heat safety measures for the 2026 men's World Cup are inadequate and could put players at risk of serious harm.
The scientists highlighted that global warming has increased the risk of extreme heat since the 1994 US World Cup. In light of this, they are calling on FIFA and fans to realize that there is no aspect of society not affected by climate change.
To address these concerns, FIFA has mandated a cooling break during each half of the matches scheduled for June in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. However, it is expected that extreme heat will influence how games are played, potentially resulting in conservative football.