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The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. According to forecasts, the air temperature during the match will reach 28 °C—which is above the threshold at which FIFPRO, the international union of professional soccer players, recommends implementing enhanced cooling measures. That said, the final is expected to take place under less extreme conditions than many of the tournament’s previous games.
One in four matches was played under dangerous conditions
According to Reuters, one in four matches of the tournament took place in dangerous heat. In 27 matches, the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT)—which accounts for both air temperature and humidity—exceeded 28 °C. It is precisely at this level that FIFPRO advises considering the rescheduling or postponement of matches.
The tournament coincided with a series of heat waves that swept across many regions of the world. According to data cited in the article, this year’s global temperature was 1.39 °C higher than pre-industrial levels, and in some parts of the U.S., temperatures rose to 40 °C.
“The stadium can continue to operate, but that doesn’t mean it’s handling these conditions effectively,” Mark Seyt, head of the environmental consulting firm SaveMoneyCutCarbon, told Euronews. According to him, if soccer players need additional protection from the heat and fans are already uncomfortable before the match even begins, it means the existing infrastructure is already operating at the limits of its capacity.
Air conditioning isn’t the solution
The expert believes that air conditioning should not be the primary solution to extreme heat. He explains that such systems increase energy consumption and operating costs, exacerbate the urban heat island effect, and the refrigerants they use contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
Instead, Seyt proposes modernizing existing stadiums. Possible solutions include improving the energy efficiency of buildings, upgrading ventilation systems, using more energy-efficient lighting, water-saving technologies, as well as installing “cool roofs” with reflective coatings and solar-control glazing, which reduces indoor heating without sacrificing natural light.
According to the expert, FIFA and the organizers of major tournaments must take climate risks into account when drawing up the schedule. Match start times and stadium selection should be determined not only by the interests of broadcasters but also by safety requirements. However, changing the schedule alone will not solve the problem if sports arenas are not adapted to the new climatic conditions.
