The UN Climate Change Secretariat has warned of the dangers of extreme heat, which could pose a risk to players, staff, and fans during the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The tournament in 2026 will be held in Mexico, the United States, and Canada, and some matches may be played in temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius and with high humidity.

The warning came at the beginning of a ten-day climate conference in Bonn, Germany. The UN Climate Change Secretariat said in a statement that "the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the largest tournament in football history, will be held at a time of increasing occurrences of extreme heat, which is caused by worsening climate change and affects billions of people around the world."

According to the agency, extreme heat is likely to be a major theme of the entire tournament – not only on the pitch, but also in the stands, around the stadiums, and in the host cities. The Secretariat warned that approximately one in four matches could be played in conditions of dangerous heat.

While players will likely have quick access to medical care, fans may not always have the same access, according to the UN. The greatest risk, however, may not come from within the stadium itself, but from outside. Fan zones, queues, transportation routes, parking areas, or outdoor celebrations could expose people to dangerous heat for several hours.

"It's hot, and it's going to get even hotter. This is not a coincidence. It's climate change," said the UN Climate Change Secretariat.

The warning comes just days after FIFA reversed its previous decision to ban fans from bringing empty plastic water bottles to stadiums, which they could then refill at hydration stations. The ban was lifted after criticism from fan groups, who pointed out the health risks associated with people having less opportunity to stay hydrated in hot and humid weather.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will therefore be not only a sporting event, but also a test of how large international events can adapt to the impacts of climate change and the increasing risk of extreme weather.

gnews.cz - GH