Furnace-like heat and the threat of thunder and lightning are wreaking havoc at the Club World Cup -- and more of the same is likely at the 2026 World Cup.
With a brutal heatwave blanketing swathes of the eastern United States, adapting to the weather has become a key focus for coaches and players, reports AFP.
Borussia Dortmund took the unusual step of leaving their substitutes in the dressing room for the first half of their game against Mamelodi Sundowns in Cincinnati, rather than have them sitting on the bench in blazing sunshine.
Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca meanwhile cut short his team's training session in Philadelphia on Monday as the City of Brotherly Love baked in temperatures of 37.2 degrees Celsius.
Dortmund coach Niko Kovac, meanwhile, said the weather could ultimately shape the destiny of the tournament.
"I think that this tournament will be decided not by the best team, but the team that can adapt to these weather conditions the best. They will probably win this tournament," Kovac said.
While cooling breaks midway through each half have become standard during the tournament, Dortmund, like other teams, are taking extra steps to mitigate the brutal heat and humidity.
"Our boys are very well taken care of by our doctors and the medical staff," Kovac said.
"We have very cold towels. We put them in ice baths. The boys also need to cool down their legs and their feet in cold water and ice baths."
The experience of the Club World Cup is likely a preview of what can be expected at next year's men's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
A recent study published by the International Journal of Biometeorology warned of the risk posed by extreme heat at the tournament for players and spectators, citing climate change as a cause of "extreme heat" events that were "more frequent and intense".
Storm disruptions
The study found that 14 of the 16 host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America frequently experience temperatures exceeding safe limits for wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), a key measure of heat stress. The study recommended avoiding afternoon matches, when heat is most intense.
In addition to extreme heat and humidity, several matches at the ongoing Club World Cup have faced delays due to lightning. Boca Juniors’ match against Auckland City on Tuesday became the fifth game of the tournament delayed under U.S. public safety rules, which pause play when lightning is within 10 miles of a stadium. One such delay during Benfica’s match lasted nearly two hours.
Ben Schott of the U.S. National Weather Service, advising FIFA on 2026 planning, said such weather patterns aren’t unusual. “Most of the eastern United States is breaking records, and then that happens almost every summer,” he told AFP. “People should prepare for something similar next year.”
He noted that unlike in 1994, when the U.S. last hosted the tournament, today’s advanced forecasting technology allows better preparation. “The advances in meteorology since we last had the World Cup here have been substantial,” he said.
FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by AFP.
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
