Hi r/climate, this is Emma from The Guardian. We wanted to share this story we published today about the impact of rising temperatures amid the climate crisis during the World Cup.
*From our story:*
It’s set to be hot in North America this summer. The “seasonal temperature outlook” for the US, compiled by the National Weather Service, suggests every part of the country will experience temperatures above the historical average in June and July. It’s into this environment that 48 men’s national teams will arrive, all competing to win the World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.
As the tournament approaches, the Guardian has taken an in-depth look at the meteorological conditions players could face, how they have changed since the last time the World Cup was held in North America in 1994 (when the US was the sole host nation), and the locations most likely to expose players to stressful levels of heat.
Included among the findings is that each of the matches staged in Miami is likely to exceed key temperature thresholds, while every venue bar the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City has had heat levels rise over the past 30 years. Researchers warn that many games will be unsafe for players and fans. Fifpro, the global players’ union, nonetheless credits Fifa with listening to their concerns and taking some steps to ameliorate the risk to player health.
High levels of heat and humidity will impact the ability of teams to perform on the field. Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) is a measure that captures this risk. WBGT takes into account not just the temperature of the air but three further measurements: humidity, radiant heat (eg direct sunlight) and wind speed. Sporting bodies use WBGT to define limits at which elite sport should be played and, under published Fifa rules, if WBGT measurements reach 32C before a match, consideration should be given to suspending the fixture. According to Fifpro, however, that level should be set lower, at 28C.
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Hi r/climate, this is Emma from The Guardian. We wanted to share this story we published today about the impact of rising temperatures amid the climate crisis during the World Cup.
*From our story:*
It’s set to be hot in North America this summer. The “seasonal temperature outlook” for the US, compiled by the National Weather Service, suggests every part of the country will experience temperatures above the historical average in June and July. It’s into this environment that 48 men’s national teams will arrive, all competing to win the World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.
As the tournament approaches, the Guardian has taken an in-depth look at the meteorological conditions players could face, how they have changed since the last time the World Cup was held in North America in 1994 (when the US was the sole host nation), and the locations most likely to expose players to stressful levels of heat.
Included among the findings is that each of the matches staged in Miami is likely to exceed key temperature thresholds, while every venue bar the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City has had heat levels rise over the past 30 years. Researchers warn that many games will be unsafe for players and fans. Fifpro, the global players’ union, nonetheless credits Fifa with listening to their concerns and taking some steps to ameliorate the risk to player health.
High levels of heat and humidity will impact the ability of teams to perform on the field. Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) is a measure that captures this risk. WBGT takes into account not just the temperature of the air but three further measurements: humidity, radiant heat (eg direct sunlight) and wind speed. Sporting bodies use WBGT to define limits at which elite sport should be played and, under published Fifa rules, if WBGT measurements reach 32C before a match, consideration should be given to suspending the fixture. According to Fifpro, however, that level should be set lower, at 28C.
[You can read the full story at this link.](https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/ng-interactive/2026/may/14/world-cup-us-canada-mexico-how-hot-will-it-be-dangerous-for-players-fans-temperature?referring_host=Reddit&utm_campaign=guardianacct)