Screenshot of the report released by Common Goal.
Extreme heat and heavy rainfall caused by climate change are putting soccer events under threat. That was the warning issued by climate scientists in a report compiled by Common Goal, an organization engaged in charitable work through soccer.
Their independent analysis found that at 10 of the 16 venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, conditions on some days had already reached levels considered unsafe for play.
'Catalyse a Movement'
Co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the tournament will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. For the first time, it will feature 48 teams, up from 32, playing a total of 104 matches across 16 venues, including Los Angeles, Miami, Vancouver, and Mexico City.
The report aims to highlight climate risks through this global event, noting that its purpose was to "Catalyse a movement — using football's global platform to inspire structural change, not symbolic gestures, and to unite stakeholders from boardrooms to grassroots."
Among the venues, Houston is projected to face the harshest conditions. The Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) — a heat index combining temperature, humidity, and other factors — exceeded the "unsafe to play" threshold of 35 on 51 days in 2025. That was the highest of any location.
Miami recorded the most days (129) when WBGT rose above 32, the level requiring in-game cooling breaks. Houston followed closely with 128 days.
Looking further ahead, the report warns that by 2050 many venues will experience even more days above WBGT thresholds. It suggests that the 2026 tournament could be the last World Cup held in North America.
Club World Cup
The dangers are not just theoretical. Matches were already disrupted at the FIFA Club World Cup held in the US this past June and July — seen as a test run for 2026. A substitute player for Borussia Dortmund spent the first half in the locker room rather than endure the extreme heat on the bench. Lightning also forced frequent delays.
According to the BBC, FIFA acknowledged the issue in a statement: "Heat conditions are a serious topic that affects football globally."
It added: "Discussions on how to deal with heat conditions need to take place collectively and Fifa stands ready to facilitate this dialogue [...] and to receive constructive input from all stakeholders on how to further enhance heat management."
The Common Goal report also emphasized the importance of players speaking out, noting their influence on supporters.
American soccer player Mark McKenzie, who currently plays for Toulouse, said that what matters most is setting the game aside to focus on the climate. He warned that if action is not taken quickly, the situation will only get worse.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: The Sankei Shimbun
