Can FIFA World Cup Compete With The Heat? — 4 Looming Challenges

InnovationScienceCan FIFA World Cup Compete With The Heat? — 4 Looming ChallengesByMarshall Shepherd,Senior Contributor.Follow AuthorJun 06, 2026, 09:03am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Argentina national team members work out during practice for the FIFA World Cup soccer Wednesday, June 3, 2026, in Kansas City, Kan.. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.The FIFA World Cup starts in a matter of days. The biggest sporting spectacle in the world will be watched for its soccer competition, economic impact to host cities, and potential to produce national bragging rights. I am watching from my perspective as an atmospheric scientist. Parts of Asia, Europe, and the U.S. have dealt with unprecedented heat since May. Players struggled through the first week of the French Open, and parts of the U.S. hit 90 degrees Fahrenheit weeks before the typical first date. From my lens, FIFA and the World Cup games face four big heat challenges now and going forward.The PlayersThe most obvious impact of heat on the World Cup is for the players. A 2025 study published in the International Journal of Biometeorology examined potential heat risks associated with the 17 FIFA World Cup locations in North America. They examined something called Wet Bulb Globe Temperature. What’s that? “The WetBulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is a measure of the heat stress in direct sunlight, which takes into account: temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover (solar radiation),” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Experts believe WBGT is better at assessing potential heat impacts than the commonly-cited heat index, which simply accounts for how it feels because of temperature and humidity. “If you work or exercise in direct sunlight, this is a good element to monitor….. Military agencies, OSHA and many nations use the WBGT as a gu...