Sweltering Heat At This Years Matches May Preview Extreme Conditions At 2026 World Cup
NEW YORK, June 26 (Reuters) - Soaring temperatures at this year's Club World Cup have raised concerns over afternoon kickoff times at the 2026 World Cup, as the expanded tournament poses logistical challenges for organisers. A heatwave across the United States saw Borussia Dortmund players face South Korea's Ulsan in Cincinnati on Wednesday, with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32.2°C) with the kickoff at 3 p.m. local time.
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With the tournament expanding from 32 to 48 teams, afternoon kickoffs may be unavoidable to meet scheduling demands and accommodate lucrative European broadcast markets.
"The big broadcasters are investing a ton of money, so they're not super interested in having the schedule changed to accommodate heat if it means that they're not going to make as much ad revenue," said Madeleine Orr, an author and sports ecologist. Host cities at the highest heat risk in 2026 - including Miami, Monterrey, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Boston and New York - should avoid kickoff times in the hottest afternoon hours, Orr said in a study she co-authored earlier this year.
Orr said pushing more afternoon games to one of the tournament's four indoor venues in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Vancouver could be part of the solution. "You need your broadcasters to be happy," said Orr.
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https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/scorching-club-world-cup-raises-concerns-2026-2025-06-26/