World Cup Matches Face Heat Risks; Calls for Ticket Discounts
WHO:
The Guardian - Simon Stiell, executive secretary for the United Nations climate body
The Guardian - Joshua L DeVincenzo, assistant director at Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness
The Guardian - Fifpro, the football players’ union
Phys.org - University of Cambridge researchers
WHAT:
The Guardian - Nearly one in five of the tournament's 100-plus matches took place in heat levels that should trigger delays or postponements, according to a players' union.
The Guardian - An additional 23 matches were played in cities reaching heat levels but in air-conditioned stadiums.
The Guardian - An estimated 20 matches were played with wet bulb globe temperatures (WBGT) at or over 28C (82F).
The Guardian - The hottest game in a non-air-conditioned stadium was on the Fourth of July in Philadelphia, with temperatures reaching 38C (100F) and WBGT possibly exceeding 33.9C (93F).
The Guardian - The hottest game overall was Argentina defeating Austria 2-0 on June 22 in Dallas, Texas, where outside temperatures reached 50C (122F).
Phys.org - Expanding to 48 teams for the World Cup increased emissions by over half a million metric tons to approximately 4.23 million metric tons of carbon for the tournament, with 82% from traveling fans.
WHERE:
The Guardian - Matches were held in cities including Dallas, Houston, Miami, and Philadelphia.
Phys.org - The study referenced emissions related to "mega-events" such as World Cups and global concert tours.
WHEN:
The Guardian - The Fourth of July match occurred during the World Cup.
The Guardian - The match where Argentina defeated Austria took place on June 22.
WHY:
The Guardian - The climate crisis is making extreme heat more frequent and intense, raising questions about the safety of conditions for players and supporters.
Phys.org - The majority of carbon emissions from mega-events come from audience travel.
HOW:
The Guardian - FIFA stationed meteorologists at match venues to prepare for extreme weather and provided mandatory hydration breaks for players.
The Guardian - WBGT readings account for humidity, direct sunlight, and wind to measure heat stress accurately.
(UPDATED July 16, 2026 19:25 UTC)
The United Nations climate body has raised concerns about the impact of extreme heat on player safety during the World Cup, noting that nearly one in five matches were played in conditions that should have prompted delays or postponements. The hottest game occurred on June 22, when Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 in Dallas, where temperatures soared to 50C, while the Fourth of July match in Philadelphia reached 38C in a non-air-conditioned stadium. FIFA responded by stationing meteorologists at venues and implementing mandatory hydration breaks, as the climate crisis continues to exacerbate heat conditions at these mega-events.