Cities Bearing the Brunt of the World Cup's Most Extreme Heat Burden Revealed
A recent report by World Weather Attribution has highlighted the potential impact of heat on the World Cup, warning that roughly one in four matches could be played in risky heat conditions. Further analysis by NPR found that as many as one-third of matches are at high risk for hot and humid conditions.
Ahead of the tournament's kickoff on June 11, an examination of recent weather trends at World Cup venues revealed that Houston, Miami, and Dallas have the most frequent history of outdoor heat burden during the World Cup period. The global players' union, FIFPRO, considers heat strain a real risk when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) exceeds 78.8 degrees Fahrenheit.
Current FIFA regulations do not consider postponing play until the WBGT reaches 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit, higher than FIFPRO's recommended threshold of 82.4 degrees Fahrenheit. To mitigate the heat, the 2026 tournament will feature three-minute hydration breaks for all 104 matches.
The WBGT is a heat-stress index that accounts for temperature, humidity, sun, and wind. Using hourly ERA5-Land temperature and dewpoint data, the analysis estimated shaded/sheltered WBGT via the indoor/no-solar-load WBGT approximation.
Some matches will be played indoors, including those in Houston and Dallas, but fans may still be affected by the heat on their way to and around the stadium. The heat burden is expected to worsen in July, with Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, an outdoor venue, hosting three matches that month. The semifinals will be played in Dallas and Atlanta, in climate-controlled venues, while the final will be held outdoors in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Ahead of the tournament's kickoff on June 11, an examination of recent weather trends at World Cup venues revealed that Houston, Miami, and Dallas have the most frequent history of outdoor heat burden during the World Cup period. The global players' union, FIFPRO, considers heat strain a real risk when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) exceeds 78.8 degrees Fahrenheit.
Current FIFA regulations do not consider postponing play until the WBGT reaches 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit, higher than FIFPRO's recommended threshold of 82.4 degrees Fahrenheit. To mitigate the heat, the 2026 tournament will feature three-minute hydration breaks for all 104 matches.
The WBGT is a heat-stress index that accounts for temperature, humidity, sun, and wind. Using hourly ERA5-Land temperature and dewpoint data, the analysis estimated shaded/sheltered WBGT via the indoor/no-solar-load WBGT approximation.
Some matches will be played indoors, including those in Houston and Dallas, but fans may still be affected by the heat on their way to and around the stadium. The heat burden is expected to worsen in July, with Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, an outdoor venue, hosting three matches that month. The semifinals will be played in Dallas and Atlanta, in climate-controlled venues, while the final will be held outdoors in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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