A World Cup in the middle of a climate crisis: How will the heat affect your team?

"A study by scientists at World Weather Attribution (WWA) warns that around 25% of the World Cup matches to be played 26 of the 104 scheduled will likely take place in conditions that pose a risk to the health of the players and, in some cases, even to the fans attending the stadiums."

"The researchers, led by Frederick Otto and Theodore Keeping of Imperial College London, used historical temperature data and other meteorological variables to determine whether safe conditions would be exceeded at the time each match was scheduled to take place. In 26 of those scheduled matches, the scientists determined that temperatures are likely to exceed 26 degrees Celsius WBGT during the course of the game."

"WBGT stands for Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, a unit commonly used in the sports world to measure heat stress on the human body. It takes into account not only air temperature but also humidity, solar radiation, and wind speed. The study estimates that five matches will exceed 28 degrees Celsius WBGT, the equivalent of 38 degrees Celsius in dry heat or 30 degrees Celsius in high humidity, Otto explains."

"The authors performed the same risk calculation for 1994, when the World Cup was held in the United States, at the same venues and times of year. They conclude that the risk of these more extreme conditions has almost doubled due to climate change caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels. In 1994, the climate was approximately 0.7 degrees cooler than it is now, notes Joyce Kimutai,"

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heat waves worldwide, affecting major sporting events including the FIFA Men’s World Cup in North America. A World Weather Attribution study estimates that about 25% of the 104 scheduled matches, specifically 26 matches, are likely to be played under conditions that pose health risks. The assessment uses historical temperature and other meteorological variables to check whether safe thresholds will be exceeded at each match’s scheduled time. Temperatures are likely to exceed 26 degrees Celsius WBGT during 26 matches. Five matches are estimated to exceed 28 degrees Celsius WBGT, corresponding to roughly 38 degrees Celsius dry heat or 30 degrees Celsius in high humidity. Comparing with 1994 conditions at the same venues and times of year shows the risk of extreme heat has nearly doubled, driven primarily by fossil-fuel burning.

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