"Players at Risk of Collapse in 40-Degree Heat... Proposal to Hold World Cup Final in the Morning"

Professor at University of Portsmouth Studies Effects of Extreme Temperatures
"Even the North and Central America World Cup Final Should Be Held in the Morning"
BBC: "It Will Be the Hottest World Cup Ever"

There has been a proposal to hold the final match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America at 9 a.m. in order to avoid extreme heat. On July 1 (local time), the BBC reported that Mike Tipton, a professor at the University of Portsmouth in the UK who specializes in studying the effects of extreme temperatures on the human body, argued that rescheduling the World Cup final to the morning hours would be the safest and best solution. With the ongoing heatwave in the United States caused by a heat dome phenomenon, such measures are deemed necessary to protect the players.

Players participating in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup are facing difficulties due to the heatwave. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

This summer, the eastern region of the United States has been experiencing scorching temperatures exceeding the mid-30s Celsius. Last week, dozens of people were hospitalized due to heat-related illnesses in the eastern U.S., and New York recorded a temperature of 39 degrees Celsius, setting a new record for the highest temperature in June.

There are already difficulties being reported at the ongoing 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Previously, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca stated, "Under these conditions, it's impossible to conduct normal training. We canceled afternoon training sessions and only conducted short sessions early in the morning. Otherwise, it would be so hot that the players wouldn't have any energy left to play the game." Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac, whose team faced Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) in Cincinnati, also said, "It was extremely hot. I was sweating continuously as if we were playing football in a sauna."

For the Club World Cup, 35 out of the total 63 matches have been scheduled before 5 p.m. While the match times for next year's North and Central America World Cup have not yet been determined, it is expected that matches in the U.S. Eastern Time Zone will start at noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9 p.m. In response, Professor Tipton said, "From a heat physiology perspective, the only option is to start matches as early as possible. The kickoff time should be moved to a cooler part of the day. This is for the health of not only the players but also the referees and spectators."

There is also a suggestion, using the Club World Cup as a precedent, to extend halftime to 20 minutes during heatwaves. The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) stated, "Health and safety must take priority over commercial interests," and added, "If the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which comprehensively considers temperature and humidity, exceeds 28 degrees Celsius, additional breaks should be provided, and if it exceeds 32 degrees Celsius, matches should be postponed."

The BBC noted, "During the 1994 World Cup in the United States, temperatures in Florida and Texas exceeded 38 degrees Celsius. In 2023, the heat index in Monterrey, Mexico, approached 50 degrees Celsius, and in Miami, it reached 44 degrees Celsius. Due to the current heatwave, some areas such as New York have experienced heat indices that felt over 50 degrees Celsius. Climate change is increasingly raising the likelihood of extreme heat events. Next year's North and Central America World Cup is expected to be the hottest World Cup ever."