The penultimate 2026 FIFA World Cup will start in June and July of that year, with matches played across the three host nations — U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Increasing temperatures and other climate dangers are already posing severe threats to both athletes and attendees. Maddy Orr, a scholar who studies how climate is affecting professional sports, speaks to the extensive influence of climate change. It can change everything—from the scheduling of matches to improvements in fan experience at tournaments.
A recent report indicates that 10 of the 16 venues selected for the World Cup are at “very high risk of experiencing extreme heat stress conditions.” Yet this all-too-real statistic begs the question of what these conference organizers will do to address these very real climate-related challenges. In Kansas City, to proactively deal with these issues, a regional heat-planning task force was formed. The task force includes academics, healthcare professionals, meteorologists, and athletic trainers from the city’s four major sports teams, all collaborating to ensure safety during the event.
Pam Kramer speaks to the crowd. She emphasized the importance of local expertise for effectively managing heat during these events.
“What we can do is provide expert opinion. For example, here’s how the Kansas City Chiefs handle heat when they are playing,” – Pam Kramer
Kramer noted that local experts are often on the frontlines of addressing challenges that extreme heat brings. This experience makes them uniquely suited to impart best practices for the World Cup.
The worries regarding extreme heat are not unique to Kansas City. As Maddy Orr points out, cities such as Toronto and Vancouver have been placed under heat warnings Mon, Wed/Fri, as early as last summer. With this trend it’s becoming increasingly likely that just such a condition will find itself present during the tournament.
“We’ve absolutely seen some heat warnings in Toronto and Vancouver in recent years and that could very well fall during the event,” – Maddy Orr
Orr went on to explain the significant issues that climate change could raise for a project.
“In the context of wildfires, these things can go on for days. If you have a heat wave and air pollution and let’s say Vancouver or Toronto becomes unplayable for a period of time, there’s going to have to be some adaptations around where the games are hosted,” – Maddy Orr
Supporters are preparing for their journey to North America for the World Cup. Travelers should get travel insurance and read their policies closely. Lisa Webb, Which? senior lawyer and consumer expert, says it’s crucial for consumers to know their rights. In particular, looking at credit card purchases over £100.
“Check a policy covers what you need it to before you buy, especially cancellations,” – Lisa Webb
In the United States, cardholders have the right to dispute charges for undelivered or mis-sold services directly with their card issuer. Unfortunately for fans, FIFA’s policies do not address the costs fans face that cancellation or postponement will cause.
Kramer acknowledged that delays were prevalent during last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup and expressed her committee’s commitment to improving the matchday experience.
“Heat is manageable, the important part is communicating clearly with visitors, so they know what to expect,” – Pam Kramer
While Kramer stated that organizers cannot set match times, they can offer FIFA expert opinions on scheduling in relation to climate conditions.
“We can’t set the match times, but what we can do is give FIFA our expert view,” – Pam Kramer
In light of these challenges, local businesses in host cities are optimistic about the economic benefits of the World Cup. Mark Kenna, the owner of a gift shop in downtown Vancouver, can hardly wait for the potential future to arrive. He’s confident that next year will be a “huge” opportunity for his firm.
Now as the World Cup draws near, fans and organizers alike need to be aware of and on guard against climate-related threats. Orr pointed out that if a match had to be canceled due to extreme conditions, ticket holders might face challenges in receiving refunds or rebooking their travel.
“If a match is cancelled, you should get your ticket refunded. But if it’s rescheduled, the ticket is still valid and it’s up to you to make sure you can get there,” – Lisa Webb
Webb further warned fans of FIFA’s policies concerning travel costs associated with match cancellations, urging them to be careful.
“FIFA won’t cover extra hotel nights or new travel,” – Lisa Webb