For All the Footballers Out There - What Can We Expect at the FIFA World Cup in 2026?

Many of us had the pleasure of watching the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 this summer.  One of the big news stories was the impact of the heat on the players and the game.  #Heatfatigue, #heatstroke and the health of the players were new challenges for a staff and players use to playing in the fall and winter.  Game pace and game strategy had to change to address these concerns.

We all saw the heat breaks at the 30mins marks where players went to the sidelines for drinks and cold towels, to help alleviate the impacts of the heat and humidity.  While it may have felt hot and humid in New Jersey, “that ain’t nothin” compared to the heat and humidity players can expect in Houston in June.

So, the question we have to ask ourselves, is how can the FIFA World Cup in 2026 be considered a fair competition when the climate of the area you are playing your group stage in, can be so different to the competitions?

We know that tournaments are often about endurance (and the depth of your bench).  If the climate of the area I am playing my group stage in, is going to have a greater impact on the health of the team vs the competition how is that fair?  More so, what can they do to minimize the impact?  Considering the below data, where would you prefer to have your group stage games?

We have Vancouver at an average cool 67F in June compared to Houston at a just damn hot 91F!  Places where it is most likely to be muggy and humid?  You guessed it, Houston and Miami.  And Vancouver, not so much.

Where the temperature and humidity can have such an impact on #performance in the short and long term, I know where I would want to play my group stage games.

Not everyone relies on just drinks and cold towels.  There are a few teams that have more advanced cooling and recovery solutions for their players when trying to #Beattheheat.  Just consider what some teams did during the Tokyo Olympics pre and post competition.  Teams from Canada to Brazil and Germany chose KewlFabric^TM cooling technologies to keep their athletes competitive and safe.

For more information about the personal cooling solutions offered by KewlFabric^TM Solutions contact us at www.KewlFabric.com.

The Technology of Kewl!  Beat the Heat! Get It Done!