World Cup 2026 faces an unstoppable ‘nightmare’

With less than six months remaining before the World Cup 2026 kicks off, the organizers are up against a very serious challenge: severe heat.

Rising temperatures in North America not only pose safety risks for players and fans at World Cup 2026, but also bring a series of organizational challenges that have yet to be fully resolved.

SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, scheduled to host eight World Cup matches, has stored about 15 industrial misting fans over 2 meters tall ready for deployment. If temperatures exceed 80°F (26.7°C), these devices will be activated around the stadium.

“Bringing 70,000 people into an enclosed space, with energy, excitement, continuous activity, and high temperatures, requires careful planning to develop appropriate response measures,”said Otto Benedict, Vice President of Operations at SoFi Stadium management, in an interview with AFP.

However, not all World Cup venues are as modern as SoFi. Moreover, Southern California is not considered the highest risk area for the 2026 World Cup. A study published in the International Journal of Climatology identified six host cities classified as “high risk”: Monterrey, Miami, Kansas City, Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. These cities have all experienced temperatures above 35°C, which is regarded as the upper limit of human tolerance.

The issue of extreme heat became a focal point of controversy at this year’s FIFA Club World Cup held in the U.S., with many players and coaches openly complaining about playing conditions. In fact, heat was a negative hallmark of the 1994 World Cup — the last men’s World Cup held in the U.S. Against this backdrop, FIFA decided to implement mandatory cooling breaks at the 22nd and 67th minutes of every World Cup match, regardless of weather conditions.

Nevertheless, FIFPro believes some matches at the 2026 World Cup still carry significant risks and recommends postponing play if temperatures exceed 28°C. Matches causing concern include group stage games held in the mid-afternoon in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, as well as the final scheduled for 3:00 PM in New York. While teams try to mitigate weather impacts, some experts argue that the risks to spectators, both inside stadiums and in fan zones, are underestimated.

“When cheering, your body generates a lot of heat, and your heart rate rises. Compared to professional athletes, fans often have lower fitness levels and may have underlying health conditions, increasing their risk of health problems or heatstroke,”said Chris Fuhrmann, Deputy Director of the Southeast Regional Center at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Temperatures inside stadiums are further amplified by the “urban heat island” effect caused by concrete, asphalt, and metal. According to Fuhrmann, ensuring airflow, adequate shaded areas, and access to drinking water are key factors, although these measures are often undermined by alcohol consumption.

FIFA has yet to clarify whether fans will be allowed to bring reusable water bottles into stadiums or how water sales inside venues will be handled.

Meteorologist Benjamin Schott of the U.S. National Weather Service — who has advised FIFA and World Cup organizers — says the top priority is prevention, especially for international visitors unfamiliar with the local climate. He believes an important lesson from the Club World Cup is the need to communicate heat safety information in multiple languages.

“It’s crucial to help fans understand how harsh the weather can be during the two months of the tournament in the U.S.,”Schott stated.