Introduction to the Problem
FIFA is not taking the dangers of extreme heat seriously enough, according to Peter Crisp from Fossil Football. This lack of concern is leading to a "perfect storm" of uncertain conditions, particularly with significant events like the 2026 World Championship on the horizon.
The Recent Example
After Bayern lost to Benfica at the Club World Championship in temperatures of 36 degrees Celsius (97 Fahrenheit), Crisp pointed out to DW that the outcome should have been completely predictable for the global governors of football. "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.
Players Unable to Perform at Their Best
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany referred to the "hard conditions" in his press conferences after the game, adding that a positive aspect of the loss is that Bavaria no longer has to play in Charlotte. The problems for the German champions are not limited to one city, with a climate phenomenon known as "Heat Dome" marking high temperatures in the east of the United States.
Dealing with Extreme Heat
On Saturday, in Cincinnati, Borussia Dortmund tried to deal with 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. "I was a little worried about the heat and the field. I was not worried that we wouldn’t win, I was more concerned with the game flow," said Kompany.
FIFA’s Response
FIFA said that it puts the health of everyone involved first and works with clubs and local health authorities to combat dangers. "FIFA implemented a solid concept at all locations, including cooling breaks in the 30th and 75th minutes according to the relevant protocols," was the explanation, adding that fans can bring reusable plastic bottles into stadiums. Additionally, teams can make an extra substitution if a match goes into extra time, as well as a concussion substitution.
Criticism of FIFA’s Protocols
Many in football, including well-known players, coaches, and the Global Players Union, Fifpro, believe that three rest days for players are not sufficient for playing and traveling more than ever, thanks to the introduction of the World Cup in a break for most teams. FIFPRO has even started legal proceedings against FIFA, partly on the basis that "the over-saturated international football calendar risks the safety and well-being of the players."
Need for Change
Crisp sees changes to the scheduling as a simple first step and questions the logic of playing games at noon, citing the example of a deputy referee who collapsed during a day game in Kansas City. Larger changes may have to be made to the calendar. "I think FIFA has to think seriously about revising the protocol to shift the kick-off times to safer times of the day. 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 types of small adaptation measures will really only play on the edges."
Future Concerns
Although FIFA was asked directly, they do not refer to the scenes of the World Club World Championship, which would mean for their future tournaments. Sixteen cities are to host World Championships in the USA, Canada, and Mexico in 2026. Only five of the stadiums that are used have roofs to offer 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.
Infantino’s Stance
The next two men’s World Championships are to be played in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco (2030) and then in Saudi Arabia (2034). Both countries are reasonably expected to be under similarly hot conditions at the relevant times. The effects on the environment, the safety 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 on Sunday.
