Report: Feyzan Lakhani. In this year’s FIFA World Cup, climate change can have a significant impact on player performance and match quality.
An investigative report revealed that 97 out of 104 matches of the tournament had increased chances of heat which could affect the performance of the players.
According to a report published by climate research organization Climate Central, temperatures of 28 degrees or more can affect the players’ running speed, the number of kicks, the distance covered and the recovery process, which in turn can affect the speed, strategy and overall quality of the match.
According to the report, nearly half of the matches at the 2026 World Cup have a 50 percent or more chance of such temperatures, with climate change increasing the risk by at least 10 points in 26 matches.
On average, the chance of heat affecting performance increased by 8 percent across all matches.
According to the study, the most affected match will be the group match between Spain and Uruguay in Guadalajara, Mexico, where there is a 70 percent chance that the temperature will exceed 28 degrees, which is more than 37 percent due to climate change.
Matches played in several host cities including Guadalajara and Miami could be affected by heat, the report said, while the probability of such heat during the World Cup finals scheduled for July 19 in New Jersey is 47 percent, which has been greatly increased by climate change.
Experts say that in temperatures above 28 degrees, the style of football changes, the players run less, the intensity of the match decreases and the chance of scoring decreases.
Norwegian footballer Morten Thorsby said that the rise in temperature is not only dangerous for the health of players and fans, but also affects the quality of the game.
According to Climate Central, World Cup organizers have taken steps to reduce the risks of the heat, such as holding matches in hot cities in the evening and mandating water shutoffs for all 104 games, but most stadiums are open-air, so players and fans can face extreme heat.
