A study reveals a threat that could threaten players and fans at the 2026 World Cup

Experts from Global Weather Support measured the weather for all 104 matches of the tournament, and found that players and fans will experience extreme temperatures in several matches.

The concern, according to experts, is that many matches World Cup It will be played in air-conditioned stadiums, including Miami, Kansas City, New York and Philadelphia.

Joyce Kimutai, one of the participants of the study from Imperial College London, said: “The situation in which the competition is held today has changed a lot in just 32 years,” according to the British newspaper “Daily Mail”.

He added: “Although the organizers have tried to minimize the risks by arranging matches in high-risk, air-tight venues, such as Miami and Kansas City, at the end of the day, there is a real risk of having matches in unsafe places for players and fans.

The researchers learned The danger of heat For players and fans to meet, they didn’t just look at the temperature of the air, and used what is called “wet bulb globin temperature” (WBGT), an indicator that measures the ability of the body to cool down.

Dr Chris Mullington explained: “A 30°C dry, windy day is very different to a day of the same heat and humidity, strong sun and weak wind.”

“High humidity reduces the flow of sweat, which prevents excessive cooling of the body. That is why the temperature of the surrounding bulb is very important,” he said.

According to the analysis, one third of the matches will be held when the heat index exceeds 26 degrees, and it is expected that one fifth of the matches will take place when the same index exceeds 28 degrees, approximately equal to 38 degrees Celsius dry heat.

The International Federation of Players, FIFPro, recommended implementing safety measures and providing cooling measures, while recommending that matches be stopped at temperatures above 28 degrees.

“When the temperature exceeds 26 degrees, the performance of the players can be affected,” said Mullington. “Above 28 degrees, the risk of heat illness is very high, not only for the players, but also for the hundreds of thousands of fans in the stadiums and resorts.”

He added: “Heatburn, which is the most serious heat-related illness, can be fatal, and the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions are particularly at risk.”

Three of the 16 stadiums have cooling facilities, while one third of the matches where the heat index rises will be held in airless stadiums.

The threat also includes the finals, which will be held in New York, New Jersey, where the temperature is expected to exceed 26 degrees on the WBGT index.

The hundreds of thousands of fans who will attend the open-air celebrations in all 16 host cities will also experience unprecedented heat.