Climate change is no longer a distant threat but has become an immediate challenge for world football. The FIFA World Cup 2026, to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, could mark a turning point in the tournament’s history: a sporting event that not only stirs passion but also exposes the vulnerability of the sport in the face of an increasingly extreme planet. Risks linked to heat, heavy rains, and flooding have raised the possibility of rethinking schedules and formats to ensure the safety of players and fans.

A report titled “Fields at Risk” reveals figures that leave no room for indifference. Ten of the 16 venues for 2026 face a very high risk of experiencing conditions of extreme heat stress, and projections toward 2050 are even more troubling: nearly 90% of North American stadiums will require adaptations to withstand the heat. Football, which has historically been a refuge of unity and celebration, now faces the challenge of adapting to the climate crisis without losing its essence.

The World Cup facing the climate crisis

The report does not only warn about the 2026 edition but also analyzes the risks threatening upcoming tournaments: the 2030 World Cup, hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, and the 2034 edition in Saudi Arabia. Beyond the numbers, what is at stake is the very experience of football. Players such as Juan Mata have already voiced concern, recalling how events like the Valencia floods remind us that sport cannot be isolated from the climate reality.

Even recent competitions, such as the Club World Cup in the United States, have shown a glimpse of what could happen. Extreme heat and thunderstorms forced FIFA to introduce emergency measures: hydration breaks, shaded benches, and fans for teams. The image of football confronting climate becomes a mirror of human fragility and collective effort to endure.

Beyond stadiums: an urgent call

The problem does not only affect major venues. Training pitches in Africa and the Middle East, such as those where Mo Salah or William Troost-Ekong grew up, could become virtually unplayable by 2050 due to extreme heat. This raises a deep dilemma: what will happen to grassroots football, the very foundation that fuels dreams and shapes tomorrow’s stars? The climate does not discriminate between elite arenas and the sport’s roots, and its impact threatens to alter the very essence of the game.

The report also goes beyond diagnosis, urging the football industry to commit to a plan of action. Zero net emissions by 2040, adaptation funds, and real decarbonization strategies are part of the recommendations. And fans seem aligned: 91% of those surveyed in the United States, Canada, and Mexico expect the 2026 World Cup to be a benchmark in sustainability. The challenge is set: football must decide whether it will be part of the problem or an example of change.