Can the World Cup cope with extreme heat?

From The Climate Question by BBC World Service

June 7, 2026 · 27 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges posed by extreme heat during the World Cup and its impact on players and fans.

Scorching temperatures are expected at this year’s World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. How will players and fans cope? And how will it affect the action on the pitch? Scientists are concerned about the impact of extreme heat on the biggest sporting event in history. The organisers, FIFA, is introducing mandatory water breaks to keep players cool, but experts say the hot conditions may slow down the game and give an advantage to teams that play more matches in air-conditioned stadiums. There’s also concern about the health effects on fans. FIFA has put in place measures such as cooling areas and misting systems, but some say the plans don’t go far enough. The Climate Question hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar chat to Dr Madeleine Orr, Associate Professor of Sports Ecology at the University of Toronto, and BBC Sport Correspondent Katie Gornall. Katie also breaks down the carbon footprint of a World Cup that’s been described as one of the most polluting events ever. Got a question or comment? You can email the team: theclimatequestion@bbc.com Presenters: Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar Producers: Nik Sindle, Jordan Dunbar, Melanie Stewart-Smith Sound Mix: Tom…

People in this episode

Hosts: Graihagh Jackson, Jordan Dunbar

Guests: Dr Madeleine Orr, Katie Gornall

Topics covered

World Cup
extreme heat
sports ecology
player safety
fan health
carbon footprint

Keywords

World Cup
extreme heat
FIFA
sports ecology
carbon footprint
player safety
fan health

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: FIFA

Places: USA, Mexico, Canada