'Corn sweat' warning for England as Three Lions face extreme humidity at World Cup HQ

England's World Cup stars will face intense humidity and a freak weather phenomenon known as 'corn sweat' at their US HQ. And it will get worse the further they advance in the tournament . Their Kansas City base has average highs reaching 30-32C (87°F–90°F). "Corn sweat" is the intense humidity caused by corn plants releasing massive amounts of water vapour into the air during summer days in the area. The process, known as evapotranspiration, can make heat waves feel significantly hotter, pushing dew points into the 70s and making outdoor work dangerous in July. It means England training sessions are designed to prepare them for the most extreme weather conditions in the tournament. Corn plants draw water from the soil and release it through pores in their leaves to stay cool, similar to human sweat. England boss Thomas Tuchel chose the location in the central US state to reduce travel time and prepare for a potential trip to Mexico City in the later rounds of the tournament. If they were to win their group, they are seeded to play against Mexico in Mexico City on July 6, with a 1am kick off UK time. The world famous Azteca stadium is at altitude and promises to provide the toughest conditions of all for his team - if they get that far and if it is ready in time. Authorities in Mexico admit that the renovation project on the venue is struggling to meet the deadlines in place for the summer, with an evening kick off planned to reduce the impact of the intense heat. In Kansas city, corn sweat can raise humidity levels by 30 to 40 percent on a hot day. According to locals, this turns average Kansas summer days into "three-shirt days," making it difficult for human sweat to evaporate and cool the body. Heat, thunderstorms and poor air quality from wildfires mean the weather will be a key factor in the tournament. Fifa has introduced mandatory three-minute cooling breaks in each half of every match. During last year's FIFA Club World Cup, heat and thunderstorms disrupted six football matches, including a two-hour delay during a match between Chelsea and Benfica. It prompted Enzo Maresca, the Chelsea manager at the time, to say the US is "probably not the right place to do the competition". In parts of the southern United States and Mexico, average daytime highs are typically in the low to mid-30s C (mid-90s F) and can rise toward 40 C (104 F) during hotter spells. According to experts, a typical summer air temperature of 32°C (90°F) in Miami would regularly feel like 43°C (109°F). In New York, the location of this year's World Cup final on 19 July at 15:00 ET (20:00 BST), a typical heatwave could result in air temperatures in the mid-30sC (mid 90F). Summer thunderstorms are widespread but particularly common in cities such as Miami, Houston and Atlanta, where warm, humid conditions can trigger frequent afternoon and evening storms. If lightning is detected within 10 miles of a stadium, the US official recommendation and standard practice is to suspend play until 30 minutes after the last lightning strike. There is also the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which assesses physical heat stress on the body. A WBGT of around 28C (82F) is widely considered a threshold at which heat stress becomes a significant concern for elite athletes. In a 2025 study published in the International Journal of Biometeorology, scientists concluded that 14 of the 16 host cities could exceed the 28C threshold. There are six host cities (Miami, Houston, Dallas, Monterrey, Kansas City and Atlanta) where the WBGT could feasibly reach at least 32C (90F) which would be considered as extreme heat stress where the body really struggles to keep itself cool. For that reason, venues like Miami are scheduling evening kick offs, including the Scotland match against Brazil on June 24.