"World Cup matches at open-air venues in North America this summer could be threatened by dangerous heat and humidity, a climate research group says."
"The upcoming FIFA World Cup is expected to be the most-watched sporting event in history, with more than 5 million people slated to attend an expanded competition hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
But with 104 matches scheduled for the height of North American summer, scientists warn the tournament could also be one of history’s hottest.
Rising global temperatures, caused mostly by burning fossil fuels, have dramatically increased the risk of dangerous heat and humidity during this year’s World Cup games, according to a new analysis from the climate research group World Weather Attribution — making conditions during the event less safe for players and spectators alike.
The analysis found that roughly a quarter of the scheduled matches this year are likely to be played amid heat and humidity levels that make it harder for the body to stay cool. Using state-of-the-art climate models, the researchers evaluated the chance the weather in each host city would exceed temperature thresholds set by the global soccer player’s union, FIFPRO, at the time of a match."
Sarah Kaplan and Brady Dennis report for the Washington Post May 14, 2026.
