Players' union calls for change in 2026 World Cup kickoff times due to extreme heat

To accommodate European TV viewers, the FIFA Club World Cup matches in the USA are scheduled for the middle of the day. But midday in summer means peak heat—far from ideal for the players. The FIFPRO union is urging for a change.

Details: Social media often circulates photos of substitute players watching matches from the locker room to escape unbearable heat, while Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca reportedly struggles to hold afternoon training sessions. The international footballers’ union FIFPRO believes this is a cause for serious concern.

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Quote: “As climate change makes extreme weather—including dangerous heat—increasingly common across the football industry, the risk of staging matches in very high temperatures is real and growing.

We believe much more must be done to prioritize player health and safety. Existing protocols and match regulations urgently need to be reviewed—this is a challenge the football industry must tackle together,” a FIFPRO spokesperson told Reuters.

Background: The practice of moving World Cup finals to later kickoff times began with the previous tournament held in the USA in 1994, when the final in Pasadena was played in 38°C heat.