World Cup 2026 facing risks: stadiums vulnerable to extreme heat and floods
The 2026 World Cup will be the first in three countries and promises record attendance. But alongside the sports spectacle, new scientific reports are raising alarms: climate change could make it the most challenging World Cup in history. With waves of extreme heat, suffocating humidity, and infrastructure vulnerable to flooding, the tournament runs the risk of being remembered as much for its goals as for its climate emergencies.
Extreme Heat in Key Stadiums
According to analyses published in Earth.org and Phys.org, 10 out of the 16 stadiums already exceed the threshold. The most critical are Arlington and Houston in Texas, and Monterrey in Mexico, where the UTCI indices could reach 49.5°C in the afternoon hours.
These conditions not only affect the footballers—with the risk of cramps, dehydration, and heatstroke—but also fans, volunteers, and workers. The combination of high temperatures, humidity, and lack of shade can trigger medical emergencies within minutes.
Mexico’s Estadio Azteca undergoes renovation, expanding capacity from 80k to 90k seats. Completion expected by Dec 2025, ahead of 2026 opening.
The Other Enemy: Rain and Floods
It’s not just about the heat. 14 out of the 16 stadiums are located in areas with additional risks of heavy rains and flash floods. Current infrastructures, designed under more predictable climates, could fail. Flooded hallways, collapsed drains, and power outages are possible scenarios during the tournament.
Projections for 2050 indicate that 90% of the stadiums will need climate adaptations: retractable roofs, more resistant turf, advanced drainage systems, and mandatory shaded areas to protect attendees.
Can Football Adapt?
Researchers recommend reconsidering game schedules outside the 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM range. They also suggest more frequent cooling breaks, prioritizing the use of covered stadiums, and redesigning turf surfaces to reduce thermal accumulation.
But the solutions go beyond the immediate. Football will need to review its own carbon footprint: reducing international flights, optimizing logistics, and investing in clean energy in stadiums.
Urgent Policies and Regulations
The ball is also in the court of governments and federations. Regulations will be necessary to impose minimum standards for thermal safety, medical protocols, evacuation plans, and adaptive infrastructure works.
The 2026 World Cup could become a milestone not only in sports but also in climate: a literal litmus test of how major events will need to reinvent themselves in the era of global warming.
