England coach Thomas Tuchel believes players will have to endure the heat during the 2026 World Cup. To observe how players adapt to extreme weather conditions, he plans to attend the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
The 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico in June-July, is expected to be the hottest tournament in the history of the competition.
This year’s FIFA Club World Cup, also held in the US during June-July, will give Tuchel a chance to see how players cope with afternoon matches in the heat.
“Watching the 3 pm matches in America and Miami is important. I will be there. We need to understand how to keep players cool, how to keep them hydrated, and what alternatives we have,” Tuchel said.
England currently leads Group ‘K’ in the European World Cup qualifiers, having won their first two matches. Qualification for the main event is largely a matter of time, and England will be among the favorites. However, according to Tuchel, the real challenge will be dealing with the conditions.
“The real test will be for the players, but I’ve done preseason training in Orlando. If we don’t face any hardships, I’ll be very surprised. One of the main headlines of this World Cup will be hardship,” he added.
England will face Andorra next Saturday in Barcelona as part of the qualifiers and are currently preparing in Girona, Spain. Keeping the expected intense heat in mind, the team is training with heated tents as part of their preparation.
The 2026 World Cup will be held across 16 stadiums in three countries, many of which are forecasted to experience extreme temperatures. Fourteen of these stadiums are expected to face ‘potentially dangerous’ heat levels during the tournament.
In Dallas, for example, over 80% of days in June and July typically see temperatures above 28°C (82°F).
A study by Brunel University analyzed 20 years of weather data and found that in 14 out of the 16 host stadiums, daily temperatures in June and July can exceed 28°C, with four stadiums potentially reaching 32°C.
FIFPRO, the professional footballers’ association, recommends that if the ‘wet bulb globe temperature’ falls between 28°C and 32°C, cooling breaks should be taken around the 30th and 75th minutes of matches.
They also advise that if temperatures exceed 32°C, training and match schedules should be adjusted accordingly.
