Key facts
- Climate change is increasing the likelihood of performance-impairing heat at 97 of 104 matches for the 2026 World Cup.
- The increased heat threatens game speed and fan safety.
- The findings are from Climate Central.
Climate change is increasing the likelihood of performance-impairing heat at 97 of the 104 matches scheduled for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a new analysis by Climate Central. This elevated heat poses a threat to player performance, potentially slowing down games, and also raises concerns for fan safety. The Princeton, N.J.-based research group found that the probability of such conditions has risen significantly due to global warming.