Officials from cities and stadiums hosting the World Cup are collaborating with FIFA to ensure the safety of players and spectators by performing heat risk assessments. They are enhancing shade, establishing cooling zones, increasing water accessibility, and deploying medical teams throughout the tournament, which will occur across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June to July.
With July being statistically the hottest month of the year in the contiguous U.S., officials caution that extreme heat poses a threat to athletes, fans, workers, and officials, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Research indicates that wet bulb globe temperatures, which consider humidity, wind speed, and sun angle, could soar above 90°F (32°C) in the afternoons in Texas cities like Dallas and Houston, as well as Monterrey, Mexico.
“Nearly all host locations, 14 out of 16, experience extreme heat levels that could pose significant risks to players, match officials, and possibly spectators,” stated Donal Mullan, a senior lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast, who led a study last year exploring heat risks in this year’s host cities.
Some stadiums benefit from full coverage, which minimizes these risks.
Heat exposure, especially during physical exertion, can result in nausea, dehydration, headaches, heat stroke, and, in severe cases, death. Concerns about widespread exposure during the tournament were heightened in March when record temperatures impacted large areas of the U.S. Scientists have warned that rising global temperatures, driven by pollution from fossil fuels, make scheduling summer soccer tournaments increasingly hazardous.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was moved to winter due to extreme heat concerns. Similarly, last year’s Club World Cup faced a heat wave with temperatures surpassing 90°F (32°C) in multiple regions.
Post-event, the global soccer players’ union emphasized that extreme heat is likely to become a significant issue in the upcoming men’s World Cups, including the 2030 tournament, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
To safeguard players during matches, FIFA has mandated three-minute hydration breaks at the midpoint of each half, regardless of weather conditions. Additional welfare measures include allowing up to five substitutions, ensuring a minimum of three rest days between matches, and providing climate-controlled benches for staff and substitutes during outdoor games. Match schedules will consider climatic conditions.
“To mitigate risks, outdoor matches during the hottest parts of the day have been strategically limited, with kick-off times adjusted in certain locations, and warmer matches prioritized for covered stadiums whenever possible,” FIFA stated.
FIFA has formed a Heat Illness Mitigation and Management Task Force, comprising medical and operational experts, to develop heat-risk alert systems, coordinate medical action plans for stadiums, and establish standardized guidance ahead of the games.
Officials will monitor weather conditions closely and activate extreme heat protocols if temperatures climb too high. In such cases, public safety messages on heat protection and recognizing heat exhaustion signs will be communicated.
If Canada’s Environment and Climate Change agency issues an official heat warning, for instance, Vancouver will add temporary drinking fountains, handwashing stations, and misting spots alongside its multilingual heat awareness campaign.
Along major tournament and festival routes, volunteers will provide heat safety information to attendees and workers.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has plans to distribute heat safety and hydration information in the lead-up to and during the games. They will also launch a heat dashboard that shares near-real-time data on heat-related emergency room visits within the county.
New York City is prepared to send notifications in 14 different languages to its 1.5 million public warning subscribers, as well as to international visitors, via the Everbridge app and WhatsApp channels.
While educational campaigns are effective in promoting hydration and shade usage, research by William Adams, an assistant professor in kinesiology at Michigan State University, suggests that passively sharing information may not achieve the desired effect. He advocates for a more proactive approach, which can be challenging for large events.
Medical teams will also be stationed at FIFA Fan Festivals and several stadiums during matches to address heat-related illnesses, including at Toronto Stadium in Canada and Dallas Stadium in Texas.
At outdoor events in Dallas, medical teams will have access to ice and ice immersion bags, with festival sites featuring two medical stations in climate-controlled areas for public safety.
Cities and stadiums are taking steps to improve access to shade, cooling zones, and water for spectators and staff.
In addition to preparing for heat and smoke response plans, Seattle’s Office of Emergency Management is exploring the use of air-conditioned buses, tents, and water misters at fan festivals and matches.
Vancouver will have shaded seating areas available at various tournament events throughout the city.
Volunteers and workers at outdoor events in Dallas will be required to take rest and hydration breaks, and officials will collaborate with volunteer groups to distribute water.
These combined efforts aim to reduce heat-related illnesses and alleviate strain on local hospitals during the tournament.
Several stadiums, such as BC Place in Vancouver, which will host seven games, are fully covered, ensuring players and fans are shielded from adverse weather inside. This has been confirmed by a city statement.
The Dallas venue is also air-conditioned and enclosed, so we do not anticipate weather-related issues inside, as noted by Tim Ciesco from the Arlington Police Department.
All matches in Santa Clara, California, will occur in the evening when temperatures are cooler.
Elliot Arthur-Worsop, founding director of Football for Future, an organization focused on environmental sustainability in soccer, emphasized the organizers’ responsibility to ensure safety. “This is a social contract between fans and football governing bodies,” he commented. Their climate report highlighted that heat and other climate risks will increase significantly for most stadiums hosting games by 2050.
“When the World Cup returns to this region,” he added, “the event will need to be structured differently and adapted to the changing climate.”