The 2026 World Cup, which is being held across Canada, Mexico and the United States, starts on 11th June and will play host to several issues concerning the weather.
Saudi Arabia grabbed a 3-0 win over Puerto Rico on Saturday in a match that was halted for nearly two hours by severe weather which included thunderstorms and lightning.
The game was held at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas where many of the World Cup games will be held this summer. North Texas is hosting nine matches including a semi-final at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington.
This weather comes as fears over heat exhaustion grow, with many national teams such as England taking their squad to states like Florida to adapt to the intense heat.
The World Weather Attribution’s scientists reported that around 26 of the 104 games are likely to be played when the host city’s Wet Bulb Global Temperature (WBGT) exceeds 26 degrees.
WBGT combines temperature, humidity, wind, and sunlight to provide a measure of heat stress which is used to prevent heat-related illnesses.
This means water breaks are key for players, much like World Cup in Qatar in 2022. With heat, storms and many other severe weather disruptions to handle this year, FIFA certainly have their work cut out for them.