The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is increasingly being overshadowed by growing fears over extreme weather conditions across North America, with climate experts warning that dangerous heat levels could threaten both players and spectators during the tournament.

Beyond the excitement surrounding football’s biggest event, scientists say rising temperatures in the United States, Canada, and Mexico could create conditions severe enough to affect match safety, player performance, fan health, and even tournament scheduling.

A coalition of climate researchers, medical experts, and sports scientists has urged FIFA to strengthen heat protection measures ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

According to reports by BBC Sport and other international outlets, the experts signed an open letter warning that some matches could be played in unsafe temperatures during the summer tournament.

Andrew Simms, who coordinated the letter, warned that the issue goes beyond discomfort.

“Player safety is an immediate and urgent concern because things can go wrong very quickly when people overheat,” Simms said.

He added:
“We’re worried that FIFA is playing recklessly with the health and safety of players.”

The warning follows a new analysis by the World Weather Attribution group, which found that roughly one quarter of World Cup matches could take place in conditions above 26°C Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), a key measurement used internationally to assess heat stress.

Scientists also estimate that several matches could exceed 28°C WBGT, a threshold FIFPRO — the global football players’ union — considers dangerous for elite-level football.

Beyond the immediate health concerns, the debate reflects a growing collision between climate realities and the commercial demands of modern sports.

Several host cities — including Dallas, Houston, Miami, and parts of Mexico — regularly experience intense summer heat. Scientists argue that scheduling afternoon matches in such environments could increase the risk of dehydration, exhaustion, and heat-related illness for both players and fans.

What makes the situation more complex is that FIFA is balancing several competing interests at once: global television audiences, commercial partnerships, stadium logistics, and athlete welfare.

A closer look also shows that climate concerns around football tournaments are no longer theoretical.

During recent international competitions hosted in North America, including Copa América fixtures and summer club tournaments, players and fans repeatedly struggled with extreme temperatures. Medical staff in several matches were forced to respond to heat-related emergencies in the stands.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar was moved from summer to winter largely because of similar concerns over dangerous heat. Yet the North American tournament remains scheduled for peak summer months despite warnings that climate conditions have worsened significantly since the United States last hosted the World Cup in 1994.

According to climate researchers, the likelihood of dangerous heat exposure during the 2026 tournament has nearly doubled compared to the 1994 edition.

The issue also highlights a broader global problem: how climate change is beginning to reshape international events, public infrastructure planning, and economic activity.

Large sporting tournaments now face increasing risks from heatwaves, wildfires, storms, and air pollution. Scientists involved in the latest warning also noted that wildfire smoke and thunderstorms could disrupt matches in some host regions.

For countries like Nigeria, where football commands enormous public attention, the debate may seem distant. Yet it reflects wider concerns about how extreme weather is affecting sports, public gatherings, and urban planning globally.

Heat-related risks are already becoming more visible across African cities, including Lagos and Abuja, where rising temperatures continue to strain infrastructure, transport systems, and public health resources during peak seasons.

In response to the concerns, FIFA said it plans to implement a weather-based safety strategy throughout the tournament.

The organization stated that it would monitor meteorological conditions in real time and adjust safety protocols based on heat indexes and WBGT readings.

FIFA also said match schedules were designed with climate conditions in mind, with efforts to avoid games during the hottest periods of the day and prioritize covered stadiums for warmer fixtures.

The governing body added that it would continue working with medical experts and local authorities to ensure what it described as a “safe and resilient” World Cup.

Yet critics argue that existing measures may not go far enough if temperatures continue to rise in the coming years.

Football authorities have previously faced criticism for reacting slowly to environmental and player safety concerns.

During the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, several players complained about exhausting heat and humidity conditions. Similar concerns emerged during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where athletes competed under intense summer temperatures.

The difference now is that climate scientists say these weather extremes are becoming more frequent, more intense, and less predictable.

That reality is forcing sporting organizations to rethink long-standing tournament models built around fixed summer calendars and global broadcasting schedules.