The big meeting is approaching. In a month, the football world will experience an unprecedented World Cup, organized in the United States, Canada and Mexico. For the first time, 48 selections will take part in an expanded edition, including France and Senegal brought together in the same group.
But this global celebration could be seriously disrupted by extreme weather conditions. Researchers are warning about the impact of the heat expected during the competition, scheduled from June 11 to July 19, in sixteen stadiums across North America.
According to a study carried out by the World Weather Attribution (WWA), linked to Imperial College London, almost a quarter of the 104 scheduled matches could be played in conditions of high heat and humidity. The France-Senegal clash, scheduled for June 16 in New York, is among the posters identified as the most exposed.
26 matches affected
Researchers rely on the WBGT (wet globe temperature index), which combines heat, humidity, sunshine and wind. A level of 28°C WBGT corresponds, for example, to sensations close to 38°C in dry weather or 30°C in high humidity. According to their projections, around 26 matches could exceed 26°C WBGT, a threshold considered critical requiring adaptation measures for players.
The report also highlights that matches played in open stadiums, such as in Miami, Kansas City or New York/New Jersey, present the highest risks. If certain air-conditioned enclosures make it possible to limit the impact for those involved on the field, scientists also warn of the dangers for supporters outside the stadiums, exposed to the same heat waves.
