FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 to be hit by extreme heatwaves

Authorities have advised people to limit the time spent outdoors.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is currently in full swing. After a gruelling group stage, the knockout stage of the summer competition commenced, and teams have been travelling across North America to play against each other.

While the fixtures already look tiring, the weather is expected to make conditions more difficult for the players. North America is expected to see a heatwave in the upcoming days during the FIFA World Cup Round of 16.

While a few stadiums in the USA offer facilities for games to be played under a closed roof, others do not.

Also Read: List of all nations eliminated from Round of 32 of FIFA World Cup 2026

FIFA World Cup Round of 16 to be hit by an extreme heatwave

The US National Weather Service (NWS) has issued extreme heatwave warnings for the next few days. A prolonged and dangerous heatwave is expected to intensify in the US over the weekend. From the US East Coast to central areas, the heatwave will affect a large area of the country.

According to a BBC report, more than 250 million people will be exposed to heat across the country. Temperatures ranging from 95F to 105F, combined with high humidity, will raise the heat index to 100F to 115F, which will raise significant concerns about the FIFA World Cup matches taking place in the country.

Officials have also issued warnings to people residing in the affected areas to limit time spent outdoors, stay hydrated, and ensure access to air conditioning or cooling centres. An emergency heat plan has also been triggered in New York by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

A few matches could also be affected by certain weather conditions that FIFPro considers unsafe for play. Taxes will be most affected by the heatwave, followed by stadiums in Houston and Arlington.

The Round of 16 games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will face this issue, but it remains to be seen how the authorities decide to address it.

On the other hand, Canada will also face similar issues next week as temperatures are expected to rise up to 37 °C (99 °F) in Ontario.

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