The World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico is about to begin, and while Cricket Exchange schedules draw attention elsewhere in sport, one threat around football’s biggest event cannot be ignored: the weather. Extreme heat is creating safety concerns for both participating teams and supporters, raising worries well beyond normal tournament pressure.

Although host cities have introduced various measures to reduce the effect of weather on matches, the related health risks still require careful handling from everyone involved. The 2022 Qatar World Cup was moved from summer to winter to avoid extreme heat, but this tournament will face the full force of midsummer temperatures across North America.

Under the influence of global warming, North America is now hotter than it was during the 1994 World Cup in the United States. According to official American climate data, July temperatures in the United States have continued to rise since records began in 1895.

When studying heat stress on the human body, WBGT, or wet-bulb globe temperature, is an important measure. It combines air temperature, humidity, direct sunlight, wind speed, and the heat absorbed by the body. Once WBGT rises above 28 degrees Celsius, the risk of heatstroke increases sharply. Research suggests that during the World Cup, host cities such as Dallas, Houston, and Monterrey could see dangerous afternoon WBGT levels above 32 degrees Celsius.

Intense physical competition on the pitch, large crowds in the stands, and extreme heat could combine to create deadly consequences. As early as March this year, parts of the United States had already recorded historic temperatures, adding to concerns about safety conditions during the tournament. Similar heat-related incidents have already happened in North America. During the Copa America in June 2024, an assistant referee collapsed in Kansas City.

In another match held in Miami that same year, players experienced dizziness and dehydration and had to leave at halftime. Earlier, in 2017, a women’s football player collapsed from heatstroke during a match in Houston, even though extra hydration breaks had already been arranged.

Donal Mullan, a senior lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast, previously led a study on heat risks in World Cup host cities. He said that almost all host cities, 14 out of 16, face extreme heat that could pose potential danger to players, match officials, and spectators.

During last year’s Club World Cup in the United States, many players and coaches complained about the heat. Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez said playing in “very dangerous” heat left him feeling extremely dizzy. England manager Thomas Tuchel even said that, considering the risks, he might keep substitutes in the dressing room instead of leaving them on the bench beside the pitch. In a packed sporting summer that also includes Cricket Exchange routines, the heat issue has become more than a footnote.

To reduce the negative effects of high temperatures, the World Cup organizers have introduced several measures. FIFA has set a rule that, regardless of weather conditions, players will receive an extra three-minute hydration break midway through each half.

For stadium arrangements, matches scheduled during hotter periods, such as afternoon kickoffs, will be prioritized for enclosed stadiums with retractable roofs. At open-air venues, cooling systems will be added around areas used by team staff and substitutes.

For supporters, host cities will add shade, ice packs, water stations, hand-washing areas, misting stations, and other cooling facilities around stadiums and outdoor spaces. Volunteers, information screens, and mobile alerts will also be used to share heat-safety guidance and medical point locations with the public.

Still, the number of enclosed venues able to avoid direct heat is very limited, with only four such stadiums available. Most matches will still have to face severe temperatures, and even when games are played indoors, the heat around surrounding stadium areas may still affect fans.

In 2023, during a Taylor Swift concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a fan tragically died after suffering dehydration in extreme heat. Similar tragedies must be avoided at all costs during the World Cup.

Large events often bring many people into places they do not know well, and Professor Vanos of Arizona State University warned that visitors may not understand the local climate or know where to find water and air conditioning. As Cricket Exchange interest continues through the same global sports season, World Cup organizers must get every detail right, because clear information, strong planning, and fast medical support could make all the difference when heat becomes the opponent no team can ignore.