World Cup Heat Temperature Concerns Solution FIFA Enzo Fernandez
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Soccer players like Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea are very concerned about the heat at the World Cup next summer. They struggled with the high temperatures and humidity at the Club World Cup this year so they are asking FIFA to reconsider its schedule for 2026.
The solution is very simple if you ask me!
This narrative about the upcoming World Cup first came to exist at the end of June. International soccer clubs from all over the world traveled to the United States to play the Club World Cup. They just so happened to arrive right in the middle of a massive heatwave. Temperatures spiked well above 80º, 90º and even 100º during the group stage. It was even hotter in the sun with the humidity.
South American clubs did not seem to have a huge issue with the weather. The same cannot be said for the Europeans. Borussia Dortmund hid its entire bench in the locker room to avoid the heat in… Ohio. Juventus players were literally begging their gaffer to sub them off during their match in Miami.
It very quickly became clear that the extreme heat across the United States is going to create legitimate issues for European national teams at the World Cup in 2026. They don’t know how to handle it.
Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea is the latest player to voice his worries for next summer.
Honestly, the heat is incredible. Honestly, I don’t know how to explain it. The other day I got a bit dizzy during a play. I had to lie down on the ground because I was really dizzy. Playing in this temperature is very dangerous, it’s very dangerous.
Moreover, for the spectacle, for the people who come to enjoy the stadium, for the people who watch it at home. The game, the speed of the game is not the same, everything becomes very slow.
— Enzo Fernandez
He also asked FIFA to reevaluate the upcoming tournament.
Let’s hope that next year they change the schedule. At least so that it remains a beautiful and attractive football spectacle, right?
— Enzo Fernandez
FIFA moved the last World Cup to November because of the heat in Qatar. Should they do the same for North America?
The solution is simple.
Six host venues at the 2026 World Cup could be an issue. Atlanta, Dallas and Houston are domed so that is not a problem. Kansas City, Miami, Monterrey, Philadelphia, Foxborough and Guadalajara are not. Extreme temperatures might be a factor during those matches like they were at the Club World Cup.
However, the most prominent temperature issues this year came during a heat wave. It really is not that bad when it is just regular hot. That would be a very lucky break.
Stu Holden also pointed to the different temperatures at different international and domestic cities on the some day Fernandez made his scathing comments. They were fairly standard across the board.
Honestly— enough of the “USA conditions aren’t safe for players”. Where do you want to play it Enzo? Here is a graphic showing the current temperatures in NYC, London, Paris, and Madrid. (BTW that temp is at night in Europe and 3 PM EST in NYC).
Give me a break https://t.co/2H2hisvfsG pic.twitter.com/tqtmtqMF1d
— Stu Holden (@stuholden) July 11, 2025
Mind you, it is ignorant to pretend like 82º in Paris feels anything like 82º in Miami. I am not going to discount the humidity. I know 84º in New York was considered a fairly tepid summer day. The odds are that it will not be that “cool” during the World Cup.
And yet, the solution is simple. Much like the MLS, matches should be scheduled according to venue.
A match played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will be air conditioned. It can be played at any hour of the day without issue. Put those matches during the peak of daylight.
A match played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami will be hot during the day. Put those matches late in the evening or after sunset. It won’t be as hot.
I am not in a position to make these decisions nor will I ever. FIFA is probably going to do whatever makes the most sense for its television broadcast partners and for its financial gain. The solution is just so simple!