MADRID, June 8 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Climate Secretariat on Monday warned of the dangers posed by extreme heat to players, workers and supporters at the forthcoming World Cup finals.
The tournament will be played in Mexico, the United States and Canada, in some cases under temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius and high humidity, presenting challenges for everyone involved.
At the start of the 10-day June Climate Meetings in the German city of Bonn, the UN Climate Secretariat issued a statement saying, "The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the biggest tournament in football history, will be played at a time of rising levels of extreme heat, driven by worsening climate change, hitting billions of people around the world."
"This extreme heat can be expected to be part of the story of the tournament, on the pitch, in the stands, around stadiums and across host cities," the statement added.
The agency noted that one in four matches during the tournament is expected to be played in dangerous heat conditions, adding that while players are likely to receive rapid medical attention, that may not be the case for supporters.
"The danger can be greatest outside the stadium. Fan zones, queues, transport routes, car parks and outdoor celebrations can expose people to dangerous heat for hours," warned the agency.
"It's hot and getting hotter. That's not random. That's climate change," it added.
The warning comes just days after FIFA reversed a decision banning supporters from bringing empty plastic water bottles into stadiums for refilling at hydration stations.
FIFA lifted the ban following criticism from supporters' groups, which highlighted the health risks of making it harder for fans to stay hydrated in hot and humid conditions. ■
