High temperatures could slow nearly every 2026 World Cup match
A new study by Climate Central has found that players could face performance-affecting heat in nearly every match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The conditions could slow the pace of games and raise health concerns for both athletes and fans.
The study found that 97 of the tournament’s 104 scheduled matches are now more likely to experience temperatures above 28°C (82.4°F), a threshold associated with reduced athletic performance.
Previous research has linked temperatures above this level to declines in sprint frequency, total distance covered, and recovery time among footballers, affecting not only player performance but also the overall tempo and style of matches.
The findings come as FIFA prepares to introduce mandatory cooling breaks at every World Cup match in 2026, regardless of weather conditions. Under the measure, referees will stop play 22 minutes into each half to allow players to hydrate, effectively dividing matches into four quarters. FIFA says the move is necessary to protect player safety.
Heat has long been a concern at World Cups.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was moved from its traditional June–July slot to November and December to avoid the country’s extreme summer heat, which regularly exceeds 40°C. Even then, temperatures during the tournament often reached the high 20s Celsius.
Previous summer World Cups have also faced severe heat.
Some host cities during the 1986 tournament in Mexico experienced temperatures approaching 40°C, while the 1994 World Cup in the United States became notorious for intense heat and humidity that left players struggling through matches.
Players and scientists warn that rising temperatures could fundamentally change how football is played. Norwegian international Morten Thorsby said the analysis shows that rising temperatures are already affecting “the quality of the game itself,” reducing sprinting, recovery, and overall intensity.
Mike Tipton, a professor at the University of Portsmouth, said matches played in temperatures above 28°C typically see reduced intensity, less sprinting, and fewer scoring opportunities, while prolonged exposure increases the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
“In football, a typical midfielder runs well over six miles per match. It is a high-intensity effort involving directional changes and short bursts of acceleration. Climate Central’s analysis shows how these elite athletes will likely be slowed by hotter temperatures, which are being amplified by climate change,” said John Toohey-Morales, an Honorary Member of the American Meteorological Society.