Scorching Club World Cup raises concerns for 2026

NEW YORK :Soaring temperatures at this year's Club World Cup have raised concerns over afternoon kickoff times at the 2026 World Cup, as the expanded tournament poses logistical challenges for organisers.

A heatwave across the United States saw Borussia Dortmund players face South Korea's Ulsan in Cincinnati on Wednesday, with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32.2°C) with the kickoff at 3 p.m. local time.

Players took advantage of FIFA's once-per-half cooling breaks at games this week while Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca told reporters it was "impossible" to organise regular training sessions in the afternoons in sweltering Philadelphia.

Global players' union FIFPRO said the conditions should "serve as a wake-up call".

"As climate change is making extreme weather conditions, including dangerous heat, an increasingly urgent issue for everyone in the football industry, the risk posed by kickoffs in very high temperatures is real and growing," a FIFPRO spokesperson told Reuters.

FIFPRO urged global soccer bodies to re-evaluate kickoff times to better address heat conditions, while praising organisers like FIFA for their flexibility in adding cooling breaks to games.

"We believe there is still a lot more that should be done to prioritise player health and safety," said FIFPRO.

"Current protocols and laws of the game require urgent revision - this is a challenge the entire football industry must take on together."

FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Match times for the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, have yet to be announced, but organisers may face challenges if sweltering conditions return.

Heat issues would come as no surprise to those who were at the tournament