Nearly one in five World Cup matches reached heat levels players’ union warns against

Kylian Mbappe #10 of France cools off during a hydration break in the Fifa World Cup 2026 Group I match between France and Iraq at Philadelphia Stadium on 22 June 2026 in Pennsylvania. Photograph: Hannah Peters/FIFA/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Kylian Mbappe #10 of France cools off during a hydration break in the Fifa World Cup 2026 Group I match between France and Iraq at Philadelphia Stadium on 22 June 2026 in Pennsylvania. Photograph: Hannah Peters/FIFA/Getty Images Nearly one in five World Cup matches reached heat levels players’ union warns against Guardian analysis finds 19% of games reached heat levels warranting delays, as Fifa defends its player safeguards The climate crisis has come for football. During this year’s World Cup , nearly one in five of the tournament’s 100-plus matches took place in levels of heat and humidity that a football players’ union has previously said should trigger delays or postponements, a Guardian analysis has found. An additional 23 matches were played in cities as they reached those heat levels, but in stadiums where conditions were mitigated by air conditioning. “The climate crisis is hitting the things we all need, like a stable climate, clean air and affordable food, as well as the things we love, like football and other sports,” Simon Stiell, executive secretary for the United Nations climate body, said in an emailed comment. Our analysis looked at conditions where the tournament’s 104 matches were either already played (102) or the forecasts for the two remaining matches. The findings are a sign of a broader challenge facing football as the planet warms. The climate crisis is making extreme heat more frequent and intense, raising new questions about whether the conditions in which major tournaments are played can remain safe for players and supporters. “The 2026 Fifa World Cup matches have introduced a true stress test of heat mitigation and preparedness,” said Joshua L DeVincenzo, an assistant director at Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness. “Fifa, spectators, stadium operators, and others … were tested firsthand on the disruptions and complications that extreme heat and weather can pose.” View image in fullscreen Young fan cooling off in a misting fan at the Dallas Fifa Fan Festival on 29 June 2026 in Dallas. His family has tickets for Tuesday’s World Cup game between Côte d’Ivoire and Norway. Photograph: The Dallas Morning News/Hearst Newspapers/GettyImages The findings come as a record-breaking heat wave scorches much of the United States, with over 125 million Americans spanning from California to New England under dangerous heat alerts. Sunday’s final seems set to be played in conditions with a wet bulb globe temperature estimate of just under 26C (79F), with low humidity alleviating the effects of high air temperatures. However, another climate-fueled concern could plague attendees: Wildfire smoke is expected to continue to degrade air quality in the region, wi