Key facts
- Nine World Cup matches were played in dangerous heat and humidity.
- Wet bulb globe temperatures (WBGT) above 28C were estimated for these games.
- Conditions above 28C WBGT should trigger delays or postponements.
- A players' union warned that climate change will impact future sports scheduling.
- The matches were played in potentially dangerous heat and humidity.
Nine World Cup matches were played in conditions deemed potentially dangerous due to heat and humidity. Wet bulb globe temperatures (WBGT) were estimated to be above 28C during these games. Such temperatures are generally considered a threshold that should trigger delays or postponements of sporting events to ensure player safety. A players' union has issued a warning highlighting the growing threat of climate change to sports scheduling. The union stated that climate change will increasingly impact future sports scheduling, suggesting that this event is a precursor to more widespread issues. The conditions observed during these matches underscore the vulnerability of outdoor sporting events to extreme weather exacerbated by climate change.