FIFA unprepared for climate impacts on World Cup competitions

Organizers of soccer's premier tournament lack contingency plans for heat, humidity, and wildfire smoke affecting matches, raising questions about preparedness for climate-altered sporting events.

First covered Jul 17, 2026 · 8:55 AM PT · 2 articles · no longer in the live window

FIFA unprepared for climate impacts on World Cup competitions — Image via grist.org

Coverage

70d Wired Science FIFA Doesn’t Have a Plan to Deal With Climate Change — This year’s World Cup has faced sweltering heat and humidity. Now it may need to deal with wildfire smoke.

71d Grist Wildfire smoke threatens the World Cup final. FIFA still doesn’t have a plan.

Primary sources

governor.ny.gov Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers as Air Quality Advisory Expanded to Entire State — cited by 2 of the outlets above

foxnews.com Air quality concerns from Canadian wildfires force rescheduling of two professional sports games — cited by 2 of the outlets above

airnow.gov AirNow.gov — cited by 2 of the outlets above

More coverage from around the web

manchester.ac.uk Experts issue climate warning ahead of expanded FIFA World Cup

indiablooms.com Could this be FIFA's most climate-damaging World Cup ever? New report says yes | Indiablooms - First Portal on Digital News Management

ctmirror.org Wildfire smoke threatens World Cup final. FIFA doesn’t have a plan.

bristol.ac.uk June: FIFA World Cup expansion and climate change | News and features | University of Bristol

newweather.org FIFA’s Climate Blind Spot the men’s world cup in a warming world

Appeared in: 2026-07-20 (#11)

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