Dr Rebekah Lucas writes about how conversations about extreme heat at the 2026 World Cup in North America have not recognised critical risks for workers
Extreme heat at global sporting events is no longer an occasional concern, often it is a defining feature. As climate change accelerates, exposure to health‑threatening heat has become more frequent and intense.
Against this backdrop, growing concern about how to safely prepare for, participate in, and attend global events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup is well justified. Yet, focusing only on players and spectators ignores a critical reality: those building and running stadiums often face even greater risks, yet these workers remain largely overlooked.
This year, the men’s 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played across a large and climatically diverse region, from mild coastal climates to intensely hot, humid cities. This presents exceptional physiological challenges for teams; exposing players, officials and fans to significant environmental stressors - chief among them extreme heat.
In many venues, wet‑bulb globe temperatures (a key measure of heat stress incorporating temperature, humidity, solar radiation and wind) will exceed high‑risk thresholds for elite sport. Such conditions are not merely uncomfortable; they pose a significant health risk.
Football is a physically demanding sport, requiring repeated high-intensity efforts and continuous movement over 90 minutes or more. In the heat, and especially hot and humid conditions, players experience greater physiological strain, reducing sprint capacity and total distance covered during a game, while decisive actions - such as explosive accelerations and quick recoveries – are more difficult to execute.
Heat stress also impairs cognitive function, reducing decision-making, tactical awareness and the ability to track multiple stimuli as body temperature rises. Players adapt, consciously or not, by pacing themselves and altering how they play. The game slows and its tactical rhythms shift.
We’ve seen this before. At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, tropical conditions reduced the tempo and intensity of play. In 2026, however, the scale is far greater, with most matches expected to exceed recommended heat thresholds. Recent events underscore the risk. During the 2024 Copa América in the United States, a match official collapsed on the pitch due to high heat and humidity. Officials, often older than players and equally exposed, can face greater physiological strain and subsequent health risks.
There are mitigation strategies. Teams should prioritise heat acclimation/acclimatisation prior to competing to improve heat tolerance and performance, while cooling measures (such as ice vests, misting fans and hydration breaks) are likely to become standard. Scheduling adjustments, including evening kick-offs, can also reduce exposure to peak heat, though this is not feasible for every 2026 match. Qatar 2022, where air-conditioned stadiums and a winter schedule minimised major heat-related incidents, showed that heat mitigation and protections strategies can make a difference.
However, such measures have limits. The 2026 World Cup will feature more teams and matches than ever before, with some stadiums having little or no climate control. Crucially, air conditioning cannot be the ultimate solution. Cooling large stadiums is highly energy-intensive and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating the very warming that necessitates such measures and creating a feedback loop between sport infrastructure and climate change.
And while the focus is naturally on players and spectators, there is a broader human dimension that is too often overlooked. The workers who construct and service these events, many of whom are in precarious employment situations, are frequently the most exposed to extreme conditions, with far fewer protections. Heightened heat exposure during peak construction periods combined with tight deadlines for mega‑sporting events has been linked to increased occupational fatalities, many of which are preventable with proper heat protection and safety measures.
Ultimately, the conversation must extend beyond those on the pitch. While players and fans face clear risks, the workers who build and operate these events are often exposed to even greater heat, with far fewer protections. International sports organisations such as FIFA have a responsibility not only to safeguard performance and the spectator experience, but also to address their wider climate impact. This includes promoting sustainable infrastructure, strengthening worker protections, and prioritising the health and wellbeing of everyone involved - on and off the field.
By Dr Rebekah Lucas, Associate Professor in the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham
For media enquiries please contact Tim Mayo, Press Office, University of Birmingham, tel: +44 (0)7815 607 157.
SES/SEHS Programme Lead
Dr Rebekah Lucas is an integrative physiologist who is interested in how exercise and environmental medicine translates to clinical medicine and public health.
