Nearly one in five matches at the 2026 World Cup would push players past a safe heat limit, according to a new analysis from the global players' union FIFPRO. The group is now pressing FIFA to adopt formal climate protocols before the tournament kicks off.
The 28°C threshold
FIFPRO uses a wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) of 28°C as its heat safety cutoff. WBGT accounts for temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation — a more accurate measure of heat stress than air temperature alone. When WBGT hits 28°C, the risk of heat illness rises sharply, especially during high-intensity exercise like a football match.
The union's analysis found that 19% of the 2026 World Cup's scheduled matches would exceed that mark. That means players could face dangerous conditions during those games, with potential consequences ranging from cramps and exhaustion to heatstroke.
What FIFPRO wants
FIFPRO is pushing for formalized climate protocols with FIFA. The union wants the world governing body to embed heat safety into tournament planning — not just as an afterthought. While the report doesn't detail specific measures, typical protocols include mandatory cooling breaks, adjusted kickoff times, and the option to postpone matches when conditions become too severe.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams and 104 matches, spread across multiple host cities. That scale makes consistent heat rules more complicated — and, FIFPRO argues, more necessary.
The union's report lands as climate change pushes summer temperatures higher in many parts of the world. For players, the difference between a safe match and a dangerous one can come down to a single degree of WBGT. FIFPRO is now pressing FIFA to act before the tournament's schedule is locked in.
