2026 World Cup venues face extreme heat risks

Research from Queen's University Belfast warns that 14 of the 16 stadiums for the 2026 FIFA World Cup could experience potentially dangerous heat levels, particularly during afternoon matches. The study utilized 20 years of meteorological data to assess heat stress using the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) metric, indicating that up to nine stadiums could exceed the 28°C threshold for heat stress during hotter-than-average summers. Dr. Donal Mullan, who led the research, emphasized the need for FIFA to reconsider match scheduling to avoid peak heat times, suggesting early morning or late evening matches instead. Cities such as Miami, Philadelphia, and Kansas City are highlighted as particularly at risk. The report echoes concerns raised during the previous World Cup in Qatar, which was moved to winter to mitigate extreme heat risks. Overall, the findings underline the growing impact of climate change on sports and public safety.