Urgent climate adaptation is crucial for North America’s 2026 World Cup, as a recent study reveals severe weather threats.
The “Pitches in Peril” report indicates that 10 out of 16 venues face a high risk of extreme heat stress.
By 2050, nearly 90% of North America’s host stadiums will need to adapt to extreme heat, and a third will encounter water demand that matches or surpasses supply.
The report also assesses risks for the 2030 and 2034 World Cup venues and evaluates how climate change affects grassroots soccer fields once graced by 18 legendary players.
“As a Spaniard, I can’t ignore the climate crisis,” stated Spain’s World Cup champion Juan Mata, recalling last year’s devastating Valencia floods.
“Football unites people, but it also highlights what we might lose.”
This year’s Club World Cup in the US provided a concerning glimpse, with players describing conditions as unbearable.
The event faced extreme heat and thunderstorms, prompting Fifa to modify protocols—introducing cooling breaks, shaded benches, and fans.
The report shows that 14 of the 16 World Cup stadiums in the US, Canada, and Mexico surpassed safe-play thresholds for at least three major climate hazards in 2025: extreme heat, heavy rainfall, and flooding.
Thirteen already experience at least one summer day exceeding Fifa’s drinks break threshold of 32°C Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT)—a standard index for measuring heat stress in sunlight.
In cities like Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, and Monterrey, temperatures exceeded this level for two months or more.
Ten venues face at least one summer day with a WBGT of 35 degrees, the limit of human adaptability to extreme heat, with Dallas (31 days) and Houston (51) most affected.
While Dallas and Houston stadiums will counteract heat with roofs, climate risks affect more than just elite venues.
The report warns that Mo Salah’s Egyptian home stadium might face over a month of unplayable heat each year, and Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong’s childhood pitch could endure 338 days of extreme heat by 2050.
“As the decade progresses, risks will increase unless drastic actions are taken, such as shifting competitions to winter or cooler locations,” said Piers Forster, director of the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures in Leeds.
The 96-page report calls for the soccer industry to aim for net-zero by 2040, release credible decarbonisation plans, and urges tournament organisers to establish adaptation funds.
Additionally, 91% of 3,600 fans surveyed across the three host countries want the 2026 World Cup to set a sustainability standard.
