The American College of Sports Medicine recommends athletic activity should cease at 82 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius). But this weekend, temperatures will surge past 90°F (32°C) in Dallas and Houston. And we’re only in May. It’s fair to say many—if not most—matches this summer will be played in extreme heat.
It’s just one of the many climate concerns at this year’s World Cup.
Some teams got relatively lucky and will play in air-conditioned stadiums; others will face sweltering urban heat, tropical humidity, and heat-exposed stadiums built with no concerns for shade.
It’s no longer a question of whether players will play in blistering heat—but how. They will have to adapt to stay resilient and perform to the highest level in furnace-like conditions. I spoke to Douglas Casa, CEO of the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut, who has consulted with teams on precisely how to do that.
