FIFA is playing recklessly with player health and safety
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, twenty of the world's leading climate and sports health scientists have raised a collective alarm: the conditions awaiting players across North American stadiums this summer may pose genuine danger, and the governing body's safeguards may not be equal to the moment. Their open letter to FIFA is less a technical dispute than a moral one — a question of whether the institution entrusted with the world's most-watched sport is willing to place human welfare above the inertia of scheduling and tradition. Climate change has quietly reshaped the playing field since the last time this continent hosted the tournament, and the scientists argue that the rules have not kept pace with the heat.
- Twenty international experts warn that FIFA's three-minute cooling breaks and 32C WBGT emergency threshold leave players dangerously exposed during matches that could see temperatures climb to 40C.
- Climate change has nearly doubled extreme heat risk since the 1994 World Cup on the same continent, with roughly a quarter of 2026 matches projected to be played above levels scientists consider safe.
- Fourteen of sixteen host stadiums could breach dangerous heat thresholds, meaning the risk is not confined to a handful of outlier venues but is woven into the tournament's geography.
- Scientists are demanding FIFA delay matches above 28C WBGT, extend cooling breaks to at least six minutes, and adopt the stricter standards already proposed by Fifpro, the global players' union.
- FIFA has responded with assurances of a tiered mitigation model and real-time monitoring, but has not directly engaged the scientists' specific demands, leaving the gap between protocol and protection unresolved.
Twenty leading scientists in climate, health, and sports performance have sent an open letter to FIFA warning that its heat safety plan for the 2026 World Cup is dangerously inadequate. The tournament spans the United States, Canada, and Mexico during summer months when temperatures in parts of the southern US and northern Mexico can reach 40C. Researchers say conditions at fourteen of sixteen host stadiums could exceed safe thresholds for elite athletes under physical stress.
FIFA's current approach centers on three-minute cooling breaks per half, climate-controlled substitute benches, and monitoring via the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature scale — a measure combining heat, humidity, wind, and solar radiation. Its emergency protocols only call for precautionary discussions when WBGT hits 32C or above. Andrew Simms of the New Weather Institute, who coordinated the letter, told BBC Sport that FIFA is "playing recklessly with the health and safety of players," warning that overheating can escalate quickly.
The signatories — drawn from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and Europe — are calling for matches to be delayed when WBGT exceeds 28C, cooling breaks extended to at least six minutes, and guidelines updated to reflect current science. New analysis from World Weather Attribution found that roughly a quarter of 2026 matches are likely to be played above 26C WBGT, with around five games potentially exceeding 28C — a level Fifpro considers unsafe. Climate change has nearly doubled the likelihood of such conditions compared to the 1994 World Cup on the same continent.
FIFA has not addressed the letter directly, but points to a tiered heat mitigation model, real-time meteorological monitoring, adjusted kick-off times, and contingency measures developed with host authorities and medical experts. Whether those assurances will satisfy the scientific community — or prompt stronger protections before the first whistle — remains the defining question as the tournament draws near.
Twenty of the world's leading scientists in climate, health, and sports performance have sent an open letter to FIFA warning that the organization's heat safety plan for the 2026 World Cup is dangerously insufficient. The tournament will be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico during summer months, when temperatures in parts of the southern US and northern Mexico routinely climb into the low to mid-30s Celsius, sometimes reaching 40C. At fourteen of the sixteen stadiums being used, researchers say conditions could exceed what they consider safe thresholds for elite athletes competing under physical stress.
FIFA's current approach relies on three-minute cooling breaks in each half of every match, climate-controlled benches for substitutes, and monitoring using the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature scale—a measure that combines heat, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation to assess physical heat stress on the body. The organization's emergency protocols state that when WBGT readings reach 32C or above, match organizers should discuss what precautions are needed to prevent heat-related illness. But the scientists argue this is too little, too late. Andrew Simms, director of the New Weather Institute and coordinator of the letter, told BBC Sport that FIFA is "playing recklessly with the health and safety of players," noting that "things can go wrong very quickly when people overheat."
The signatories—experts from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and Europe—are calling for urgent changes. They want FIFA to delay or postpone matches when WBGT readings exceed 28C, extend cooling breaks to at least six minutes (preferably longer), improve cooling facilities for players, and commit to updating guidelines based on the latest science. Douglas Casa, a professor at the University of Connecticut and another signatory, emphasized that the current three-minute hydration break is "far from ideal" and must be extended to at least five minutes, preferably six. The scientists also urge FIFA to adopt standards proposed by Fifpro, the global players' union.
The concern is not abstract. New analysis from the World Weather Attribution organization found that around a quarter of matches at the 2026 World Cup are likely to be played above 26C WBGT, while about five games could exceed 28C WBGT—a level Fifpro considers unsafe for play. This represents a significant increase in risk compared to the 1994 World Cup, held on the same continent. Climate change has nearly doubled the risk of extreme heat conditions since then. Players and fans alike will face exposure to not only heat and humidity but also thunderstorms and poor air quality from wildfires, all typical features of North American summers.
FIFA has not directly addressed the scientists' letter or their specific claims, but the organization says it will employ a "tiered heat mitigation model" adapted to real-time conditions. The governing body points to dedicated meteorological support, WBGT and heat index monitoring, and scheduling designed with climate in mind—including adjusted kick-off times, limited matches during the hottest periods, and prioritization of warmer fixtures for covered stadiums. FIFA also says it is working with host authorities and medical experts to ensure a "safe and resilient" tournament, with contingency measures ready to deploy as needed.
What remains unclear is whether these measures will satisfy the scientists' concerns or whether FIFA will move to adopt the stronger protections they are demanding. The letter represents a rare moment of unified scientific pressure on the world's largest sports governing body, and it comes at a time when the physical demands on elite athletes and the environmental conditions they face are both intensifying. The 2026 World Cup will be a test of whether FIFA is willing to prioritize player welfare over scheduling convenience when the two come into conflict.
Notable Quotes
Player safety is an immediate and urgent concern because things can go wrong very quickly when people overheat.— Andrew Simms, director of the New Weather Institute
The hydration break in each half absolutely needs to be longer than three minutes—at least five minutes for each break and preferably six.— Professor Douglas Casa, University of Connecticut
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why are scientists singling out FIFA now, rather than, say, the Olympics or other major tournaments?
Because the 2026 World Cup is happening in summer across three countries known for extreme heat—the southern US, Canada, and Mexico. Fourteen of sixteen stadiums are in zones where temperatures regularly exceed what's considered safe for intense physical exertion. It's a perfect storm of venue, timing, and climate.
What's the actual risk to a player? What happens when someone overheats during a match?
Heat stress can escalate quickly. At first there's fatigue and reduced performance. But it can progress to heat exhaustion—dizziness, nausea, confusion—and then heat stroke, which is a medical emergency. The body's core temperature rises uncontrollably. It can cause organ damage, collapse, even death. That's why the scientists are alarmed.
FIFA says it's monitoring with WBGT and has cooling breaks. Why isn't that enough?
Three minutes isn't long enough for a player's core temperature to drop meaningfully, especially in extreme conditions. And FIFA's threshold for action is 32C WBGT—but Fifpro and these scientists say 28C is already unsafe. FIFA is essentially waiting until conditions are severe before acting, rather than preventing the problem.
Is FIFA being negligent, or just cautious about disrupting the tournament?
That's the tension. FIFA has commercial and scheduling pressures. Delaying or postponing matches costs money and disrupts the tournament structure. But the scientists are saying those pressures shouldn't override player safety. The letter is essentially calling FIFA out for prioritizing logistics over welfare.
What would actually change if FIFA adopted the scientists' recommendations?
Matches above 28C would be delayed or moved. Cooling breaks would stretch to six minutes instead of three. There'd be better cooling facilities for players on the sideline. It would mean more flexibility in scheduling, possibly moving some games to covered stadiums or different times. It would be messier, but safer.
Has climate change made this worse than it would have been in, say, 1994?
Dramatically. The risk of extreme heat has nearly doubled since the last World Cup on this continent. That's not just about the tournament being in summer—it's about the baseline temperature rising. The same stadium in 1994 would have been cooler. We're not just dealing with the same conditions; we're dealing with worse ones.