Geneva (AP) – Football had a fierce settlement with heat at the recently closed FIFA Club World Cup In the United States-a sizzling preview of which players and fans can be confronted when the US hosts with Mexico and Canada with Mexico and Canada next summer.
With the temperatures that rise worldwide, scientists warn that organizing the World Cup and other football tournaments on the summer of the Northern Hemisphere is becoming increasingly dangerous for both players and spectators.
Some suggest that FIFA may have to consider adjusting the football calendar to reduce the risk of heat -related diseases.
“The deeper we go into the decade, the greater the risk of considering dramatic measures, such as playing in the winter months and/or cooler latitudes,” said Prof. Piers Forster, director of the Priestley Center for Climate Futures in Leeds, England. “I am increasingly worried that we are only one heat away from a sporting tragedy and I would like to see administrative bodies leaning in climate and health science.”
Tournament Voetbal In June and July is a tradition that goes back to the first World Cup in 1930. Since then, the three -month period of June, July and August has worldwide worldwide Heated by 1.05 degrees Celsius (1,89 degrees Fahrenheit), according to the American National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In the meantime, European summer temperatures have risen by 1.81 degrees C. The warming speed has been accelerated since the 1990s.
Climate scientists say that this is a factor that must be taken into account when playing outdoor sports with high intensity such as football.
“If you want to play football 10 hours a day, they have to be the hours of the early morning and late evening,” told climatologist Friederike Otto of the Imperial College, London, the Associated Press in an e -mail: “If you don’t want players and fans to die from Hittebooedte or become seriously ill with heat -out -putting.”
Extreme heat and thunderstorms Has influenced the new extensive FIFA tournament for club teams. The club World Cup was held in 11 American cities from 14 June to 13 July.
FIFA adapted by adjusting its extreme heat protocol to absorb extra breaks in the game, more field side water and cool the team benches with air fans and more shade. Yet Chelsea -midfielder Enzo Fernández said the heat made him dizzy And urged FIFA to avoid the afternoon stairs at the World Cup next year.
The Global Soccer Players Union, FIFPROHas warned that six of the 16 World Cities Cities are “extremely high risk” for heat stress next year.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino passed on the heat-to-seekingness on Saturday and said that the handful of World Cup stadiums that are being treated would be used for day games next year.
Extreme heat can become an even greater challenge for the following World Cup in 2030This is also organized by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Games are planned to be played in the afternoon and early evenings from mid -June to mid -July. All three countries have already seen it Rise Above 40 degrees C (well above 100 Fahrenheit) this summer.
FIFA trivialized the heat risk In-house evaluation From the 2030 bid from 2030, say: “The weather conditions are difficult to predict with current development in the global and local climate, but it is unlikely that he influences the health of players or other participants.”
The physical effects of playing 90 minutes of football in direct sunshine during the hottest part of the day can be serious and possibly result in hyperthermia – abnormally high body temperatures.
“When players experience hyperthermia, they also experience an increase in cardiovascular tribe,” said Julien Périard of the University of Canberra.
“If the core temperature increases exaggerated, the exercise disease of the heat can occur,” which leads to muscle cramps, heat depression and even life-threatening heat stroke, he said.
Many sporting events that are held in the summer adjust their starting times until early morning or late night to minimize the risk -related disease, including marathons in the Olympic Games or track World championships. Morning stairs, however, are rare in football, where World Cup matches are often trimmed with the European TV audience in mind.
It would be difficult for FIFA to prevent World Cup kick-off during the day, given the packaged competition schedule as the number of participating teams increases from 32 to 48 in 2026.
Heat is primarily a problem when the World Cup is held in the northern hemisphere, because June and July are winter months in the southern hemisphere.
FIFA has adhered to his traditional schedule of June-Juli for the World Cup men, except in 2022 when it moved the tournament to November-December to prevent the summer heat in Qatar. Something similar is expected when the neighboring Saudi Arabia organizes the tournament in 2034.
However, moving the World Cup to another part of the year is complicated because it means that the powerful football competitions of Europe have to interrupt their season, which must influence both domestic competitions and the Champions League.
FIFA did not respond to questions from AP about whether alternative dates for the world cups of 2030 and 2034 were considered.
When and where to plan the World Cup and other outdoor sports events, it will probably become more urgent the more the world remains warm.
Athletes and even everyday people who make physical activities on the basis of 2023 are now exposed to 28% more of moderate or higher heat risk Australian Open in Tennis.
“This is symbolic for something bigger,” said Michael Mann, a climate scientist from the University of Pennsylvania. “Not only the danger and discomfort for fans and players, but the fundamental disruptive nature of climate change when it comes to our current way of life.”
Dranenstein has contributed from Washington, DC
