How could extreme weather affect World Cup 2026?

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. How could extreme weather affect World Cup 2026? Image source, GettyBySimon King Lead Weather PresenterPublished4 minutes agoWith just a month to go until the biggest football tournament in the world begins, attention is turning not just to the teams and venues, but to the weather. Heat, thunderstorms and even poor air quality from wildfires are all features of summer across the United States, Canada and Mexico, where the tournament will be held.

Humidity may also be a key factor in any disruption to the World Cup caused by the weather. Fifa have acknowledged that hot weather could be an issue and, as part of their "commitment to player welfare", have introduced mandatory three-minute cooling breaks in each half of every match for the tournament. Image source, GettyImage caption, Thunderstorms during the Fifa Club World Cup in 2025 meant there were multiple games delayed During the Fifa Club World Cup last year, six football matches were disrupted due to heat and thunderstorms, including a two-hour delay during a match between Chelsea and Benfica.

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It prompted the Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca to say the US is "probably not the right place to do the competition". How hot is it likely to get? Many of the host cities are accustomed to high summer temperatures.

In parts of the southern United States and northern Mexico, average daytime highs are typically in the low to mid-30s C (mid 90F) and can rise towards 40C (104F) during hotter spells. Image caption, When temperature, humidity, wind speeds and the strength of the sunshine are factored in, players in these World Cup host cities are at greatest risk of experiencing extreme levels of heat stress on the bodyWhen you add humidity into the equation, making it more difficult for the body to cool itself effectively, things start to feel hotter still. There are two heat indexes you will get to hear a lot about this summer.

One is the 'feels like', which is how your body feels the heat rather than what the thermometer says. In Miami, for example, a typical air temperature of 32C (90F) in summer would regularly feel like 43C (109F). There is also the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which assesses physical heat stress on the body.

A WBGT of around 28C (82F) is widely considered a threshold at which heat stress becomes a significant concern for elite athletes. In a 2025 study published in the International Journal of Biometeorology, scientists concluded that "14 out of the 16 host locations exceeded WBGT's of 28C (82F) in a summer afternoon, external. "'Heat danger' warning about 2026 World Cup venues Published30 January 2025The World Cup line-up is complete - here's what you need to know Published1 AprilThere are six host cities (Miami, Houston, Dallas, Monterrey, Kansas City and Atlanta) where the WBGT could feasibly reach at least 32C (90F) during the afternoon which would be considered as extreme heat stress where the body really struggles to keep itself cool.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.