Heat risks at 2026 World Cup draw warnings from scientists and players' union

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with matches running from June into July - peak summer months for most North American host cities. FIFA faced similar scrutiny ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which was ultimately moved to November and December in part to avoid extreme summer temperatures. That precedent has sharpened attention on how the governing body handles heat planning for a tournament set during the Northern Hemisphere's hottest period. Climate scientists have documented rising average summer temperatures across North American cities over recent decades, which researchers say increases baseline risk at stadiums that are open or only partially covered. FIFA has not publicly announced scheduling changes in direct response to the heat warnings, and the tournament venue list remains in place as of the latest reporting.