Atlanta's Heatwave Raises Concerns for World Cup Workers

WHO:

Valdosta Daily Times - Lucia Gambino of the workers’ rights group Sur Legal Collaborative

Valdosta Daily Times - Andrew Grundstein, geography and atmospheric sciences professor at the University of Georgia

Valdosta Daily Times - Maggie Morrissey of Providence College and the Korey Stringer Institute

Valdosta Daily Times - Tobie Mathew, chief people officer in Toronto

Valdosta Daily Times - Frida Garza of Grist

WHAT:

Valdosta Daily Times - Workers reported heat exposure, lack of drinking water, lack of shade or cooling areas, and lack of breaks.

Valdosta Daily Times - Several World Cup host cities experienced a heat dome with high temperatures and heat index values.

Valdosta Daily Times - FIFA has built hydration breaks into games to help players stay safe.

Valdosta Daily Times - The city of Toronto has a heat stress policy with job-specific safe work procedures for roles with increased heat risk.

WHERE:

Valdosta Daily Times - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Valdosta Daily Times - Host cities include Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Philadelphia, New York, and Toronto.

Valdosta Daily Times - The resource center for workers is located at a church across Northside Drive from Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

WHEN:

Valdosta Daily Times - The 2026 FIFA World Cup is taking place in three different countries.

New York Times - The match between France and Iraq was delayed for more than two hours on June 22.

WHY:

Valdosta Daily Times - Climate change is worsening heat, making workers particularly vulnerable to heat-related risks.

Valdosta Daily Times - Workers may not be acclimatized to the heat, increasing their risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Valdosta Daily Times - FIFA is urged to recognize the need for worker protections similar to those provided for athletes.

HOW:

Valdosta Daily Times - Sur Legal Collaborative is conducting a survey of workers about their working conditions and how they are handling the heat.

Valdosta Daily Times - Protection measures in Toronto include hydration, limiting sun exposure, and cooling measures like fans and air conditioning.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 07:50 UTC)

Workers in several World Cup host cities, including Atlanta, Miami, and Toronto, have reported serious concerns about heat exposure, citing a lack of drinking water, shade, and breaks as they endure extreme temperatures exacerbated by climate change. In response, FIFA has implemented hydration breaks during games, while the city of Toronto has established a heat stress policy to protect workers in high-risk roles. The workers' rights group Sur Legal Collaborative is currently surveying employees to better understand their working conditions and how they are coping with the heat.