Introduction to the Problem
FIFA has been criticized for not taking the dangers of extreme heat seriously enough, and according to Peter Crisp from Fossil Football, they are on course for a "perfect storm" of uncertain conditions at big events such as the 2026 World Cup.
The Risks of Extreme Heat
After Bayern Munich lost to Benfica at temperatures of 36 degrees Celsius, Crisp stated that such results should be completely predictable. "This was a very obvious risk. It was just a quick look at the previous weather records of the cities involved to show that dangerous heat would absolutely influence this tournament, and so it is proven," he said. Bayern coach Vincent Kompany referred to the "hard conditions" in his press conferences after the game and added that a positive of the loss is that they no longer have to play in Charlotte.
Players Unable to Perform at Their Best
Unfortunately, the problems for the German champions are not limited to a city, with a climate phenomenon known as "Heat Dome" marking high temperatures in the east of the United States. On Saturday, in Cincinnati, it was Borussia Dortmund who tried to deal with the 32-degree heat. The pictures of their substitutes in an air-conditioned changing room seemed to hit a chord with players, clubs, and fans. Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said that he was "sweating as if I was just getting out of a sauna", and it was "difficult to do both teams" while recognizing that South African opponents Mamelodi Sundowns were more used to such conditions. Kompany added that the conditions made it impossible for the players to play at their best.
FIFA’s Response to the Situation
FIFA stated that it had put the health of everyone involved first and worked with both clubs and local health authorities to combat dangers. "FIFA implemented a solid concept at all event locations, including cooling breaks in the 30th and 75th minutes according to the relevant protocols," was the explanation. They also added that fans can bring in reusable plastic bottles in stadiums. Additionally, teams can make an extra substitution if a match goes into extra time, as well as a concussion substitution.
Concerns About Player Welfare
Many in football, including large players, coaches, and the Global Players Union, Fifpro, believe that three rest days for players are not sufficient to play and travel more than ever thanks to the introduction of the World Cup in a break for most teams. In fact, FIFPRO started legal proceedings against FIFA, partly on the basis: "The over-saturated international football calendar risks the safety and well-being of the players".
The Need for Change
Crisp sees changes to the planning as a simple first step and questions the logic of playing the games at noon. "I think FIFA has to think seriously about revising the protocol to shift the start times to safer times of the day if this is necessary. When we saw the forecast for Bayern Munich against Benfica, we could see a week in advance that it would be really dangerous temperatures," he said. "But in a rapidly heating world, these small adjustment measures will really only play around on the edges."
The Future of the World Cup
Sixteen cities are to host the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico in 2026. But only five of the stadiums that are used have roofs to offer a certain sun protection in a tournament that is to be played at a similar season. "I think in 2026 is almost a perfect storm in which the FIFA decided to massively expand the competition and bring it to 104 games, which means that it is extremely likely that many of these games will overlap with times of dangerous weather," said Crisp.
Conclusion
The effects on the environment, the security of the players, and the quality of the games are clear to many at the Club World Championship, but the FIFA boss Gianni Infantino seems to be satisfied with their new competition. "Of course, those who are not there would like to be there. Maybe some criticize it a bit, but it’s something new, it is something special, it is something big. It’s a real world championship with the best teams and the best players," he said.
