Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
18h ago

Players’ Union Demands Sweeping Heat Safeguards for 2026 and 2030 World Cups

FIFPRO argues that extended pauses with doubled drink breaks along with evening kickoffs are essential to prevent heat stress at next summer’s World Cups.

Image
Image
Players such as Jude Bellingham have had to contend with sweltering conditions at the Club World Cup
Image

Overview

  • FIFPRO warns that heatwave conditions seen at the Club World Cup foreshadow greater risks at the 2026 tournament in the U.S., Canada and Mexico and the 2030 edition in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
  • The union is calling for 20-minute halftime intervals, twice as many in-game drink breaks and evening kickoff slots to shield players from soaring temperatures.
  • FIFA has lowered its thresholds for mandatory cooling breaks and added water stations and towels during the Club World Cup but declined to shift match start times.
  • Six of the 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup—Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami and Monterrey—are rated by FIFPRO as extremely high risk for player heat-stress injury.
  • FIFPRO notes that formal adoption of longer halftime periods or extra breaks requires backing from the International Football Association Board.