What to know
- A new international study led in part by a Brock University researcher found soccer players performed worse and faced greater heat illness risks during afternoon matches played in extreme temperatures.
- Researchers analyzing the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup found athletes were exposed to high heat stress in more than half of the matches studied, with players running shorter distances and at lower speeds as temperatures increased.
- The findings come as Canada prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and forecasters warn this summer could be among the hottest on record, prompting renewed calls for FIFA to prioritize evening matches and player safety measures.
With record-hot temperatures expected to hit Toronto over the summer, an Ontario-based expert is suggesting FIFA should cut back on afternoon World Cup matches to protect athletes from heat stroke.
The soccer tournament is now only 22 days away, and Professor of Kinesiology at Brock University and Canada Research Chair in Extreme Human Environments Toby Mündel is urging FIFA to take steps to protect players against overheating, after finding that players perform better under less heat stress.
The professor is part of an international research team that recently launched a study suggesting placing World Cup matches during the evening instead of in the afternoon would better support athletes’ health and performance.
Utilizing FIFA Club World Cup 2025, which occurred last summer, as a case study for the research, the Physical performance in elite male soccer under extreme heat: A case study of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup data examined the impacts of humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation on athletic performance.
Researchers found that players were exposed to extreme heat illness risk in 31 out of 57 analyzed matches, based on a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) of over 28º C.
In addition, the intense heat also affected athletes’ performances, with many of them running shorter distances and at lower speeds as the WBGT increased, and some prioritizing control of the ball over fast running.
On the other hand, players were able to run longer distances during evening games in comparison to afternoon games due to lower heat stress.
In light of the results, Mündel says current and future tournament organizers should consider prioritizing players’ health when scheduling games, including considering hosting more matches in the evening.
“This study emphasizes the importance of advanced planning of match hours and choice of host cities that are less affected by extreme heat,” he said in a statement with Now Toronto.
The researcher’s suggestion comes after other scientists called on FIFA to take steps to protect players’ health during the game.
Earlier this month, FIFA introduced extra hydration breaks, requiring referees to stop the matches 22 minutes into each half of the game so players can rehydrate during the 2026 tournament.
After registering record-hot temperatures in 2024, followed by a comparably warm 2025, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is warning that 2026 could continue the trend, with this summer expected to be one of the hottest on record across the country.
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The intense heat is not exclusively forecasted for Canada, as ECCC says temperatures are set to rise well above pre-industrial levels across the globe.
