Researchers warn that the 2026 men’s World Cup, hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico, could include a significant number of matches played in dangerous heat conditions. Reporting across outlets cites analyses linking higher temperatures to climate change and notes that North America is expected to run hotter than historical averages during the tournament period. One study highlighted that roughly one in four of the games could occur in very hot conditions, creating a “real risk” of unsafe environments for players and fans.
The Guardian also describes a mixed outlook across the tournament’s 16 stadiums, with some locations expected to be more affected than others, including Miami as a venue likely to experience stressful heat. All sources frame the issue in terms of increasing exposure compared with the last time the World Cup was held in North America in 1994. Overall, the reports emphasize the need to consider heat stress as a sports safety concern as teams arrive for the tournament.
