FIFA, The Athletic, Aaron Mentkowski
10 June 2026
The World Cup is expected to bring heavy heat and weather disruption across North America, with several matches likely to be played above 32 degrees Celsius. Dallas, Monterrey and other venues are projected to face especially demanding conditions.
The Athletic’s analysis used 10 years of hourly weather data around each fixture window. Heat could limit high-energy tactics, while lightning protocols may suspend matches, making adaptation, hydration and concentration major tournament factors for teams.