World Cup 2026 Matches Expected After Midnight UK Time to Mitigate North American Heat

FIFA is likely to schedule 2026 World Cup matches involving European teams to start after midnight UK time to avoid the extreme summer heat experienced during this year's Club World Cup in the USA. The Club World Cup matches, which began as early as 5pm BST (midday local US time), exposed players to temperatures nearing 40°C, leading to health concerns such as dizziness reported by players like Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez. CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, also a FIFA vice-president, emphasized that kick-off times are a major focus due to the hot summers in host countries and that ongoing discussions with European and global broadcasters aim to find the best balance between player welfare and television audiences. Although some stadiums have roofs for shade, it is impractical to schedule all early matches in these venues, complicating the task. The expanded 48-team tournament will see up to four games per day during group stages, making scheduling a challenge. FIFA intends to finalize the schedule after the tournament draw in December, striving to accommodate both heat concerns and broadcast needs.