2026 World Cup: From the risk of extreme heat to FIFA's unilateral business

▲ Experts warn that temperatures could reach up to 41 degrees Celsius during the tournament. AP Photo

Alberto Aceves

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, July 19, 2025, p. 9

At last year's Copa América hosted by the United States, assistant referee Humberto Panjoj collapsed during the first half of a match in Kansas City with a heat index near 40 degrees Celsius. The same weather conditions mirrored at the Club World Cup, with potential for thunderstorms in stadiums and hydration periods sponsored by an energy drink, alerted players, coaches, and members of the global union of football professionals to the upcoming FIFA World Cup in that country.

According to a report by the British organization Scientists for Global Responsibility, the start and end dates of the international tournament—June 11 to July 19—coincide with the peak hurricane season, peak forest fires, and episodes of extreme heat that have become increasingly frequent. Furthermore, as this is the first time 48 teams will play in 104 matches (out of the usual 64), the increased travel, infrastructure use, and energy resources will make this edition the most polluting in history, with total emissions of 9.02 million tCO2e (tons of carbon dioxide equivalent), almost double the average attributable to the World Cup.

The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) is not only warning of an overcrowded schedule, but also of a unilateral, authoritarian approach based on FIFA's financial gains , says the union's president, Argentine Sergio Marchi. In a document titled "The Man Who Thinks He's God," a reference to Gianni Infantino, the world's top football official, the association led by Marchi points out that six of the 16 World Cup host cities are at extremely high risk for heat stress in players, according to the WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature) index.

The comprehensive climate emergency risk assessment states that stadiums in Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York and New Jersey, as well as Monterrey, must manage heat stress, as temperatures can reach up to 41 degrees Celsius during some matches.

The players accept everything, because they have been transformed into millionaire sheep that are part of the same flock , Fernando Signorini, Diego Armando Maradona's former physical trainer at the 1986, 1990 and 1994 World Cups, told La Jornada .

The powers that be tell them to shut up and play, all for money. Infantino is just another puppet, because above him are other powers, including Donald Trump himself.

With global temperatures rising, FIFA extended the hydration breaks per match during the Club World Cup—minutes 15, 30, 60, and 75—in response to concerns expressed by players and FIFPro, but also as a publicity opportunity. In advertisements projected on giant screens, an energy drink brand sponsored the referees' call to the teams to cool down. The hydration breaks were taken from temperatures of 32 degrees, which seems absurd to me. "What are we waiting for? For something more serious to happen?" asks Marchi, FIFPro president since November 2024.

Infantino is an autocrat, a guy who decides things on his own, without consulting anyone. Soccer is a celebration invented by the players, not a business he created. He can't just focus on one sector. FIFA says it expects to sell 6.5 million tickets for the World Cup, but I think someone has to speak up. We all know this is wrong, that players' rest and social rights are not respected. There are millions who don't receive their salaries, who are victims of abuse, physical, psychological, and economic violence, while FIFA earns more than $2 billion per tournament. "It's not all business ," he adds.

Storm Delays

Safety protocols in the United States require outdoor sporting events to be suspended for at least 30 minutes when thunder is forecast within a 13-kilometer radius. If another storm approaches during that time, the countdown is reset to zero, making the timing of matches' resumption unpredictable. The delay time for the six matches that triggered the protocol at the Club World Cup was 8 hours 29 minutes, including Benfica-Chelsea at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, which resumed two hours after its suspension, with five minutes remaining.

It's difficult to play in such heat, but in a World Cup, footballers have to take advantage of every opportunity , says former center back Claudio Suárez, the player who has worn the Mexican national team jersey the most times (178 in total). I don't know if Mexico can reach the top spots, but it has to surpass what it did in 1986, when many complained about the pollution . According to FIFA, the Tricolor will have its main training camp at the Mexican Football Federation's High Performance Center, in addition to the Verde Valle and Barrial complexes in Guadalajara and Monterrey, respectively.

Sports medicine specialists Jesús Felipe González and Carlos Suárez Ahedo agree on the risks of playing in stifling conditions, which often lead to muscle fatigue, dizziness, loss of consciousness, and heat stroke, like the one suffered by Chelsea captain Enzo Fernández in New Jersey during the semi-final against Fluminense. A player exposed to these conditions can lose between 3 and 4 kilograms per game, in addition to suffering from hyperthermia due to the significant increase in body temperature , González explains.

With the exception of 2022, when it moved the tournament to November-December to avoid the hot summer in Qatar, FIFA has stuck to its traditional June-July schedule for the 2026 World Cup . In Qatar, in the face of all the criticism that they were making workers work at all hours under the sun, laws were changed as a response , recalls Argentine journalist and writer Ezequiel Fernández Moores. The country became almost a pioneer of labor rights in the Persian Gulf region, which is a super-exploiting territory for migrants. In the United States, there was no great debate about the heat, nothing was said .

The experience of those attending the Club World Cup, with sweat-soaked shirts and abandoned seats in the hottest sections, is no different from what players and coaches have described at press conferences. "This affects football and entertainment ," says Álvaro Nanton, who was present at various stadiums during the tournament as a freelancer . "Many matches were played in temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius, with temperatures feeling like 38 or 39 degrees Celsius due to the humidity. It's dangerous, and it's not entirely clear how FIFA will address it ."

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, July 19, 2025, p. a10

The tournament has barely begun, and Alicia Licha Cervantes confirms her star status. The Liga MX Femenil's all-time leading scorer gave Chivas another victory by converting a penalty kick to beat Querétaro 1-0, the team's first defeat in its new era after the franchise was acquired by American Marc Spiegel.

Only two rounds of the 2025 Apertura tournament have been played, and Cervantes already boasts three goals this season, after scoring a brace in the opening match against Atlético de San Luis. Thanks to the drive of their striker, Chivas have temporarily taken the lead with six points.

In contrast, the Queretanas were left with just one point, which suggests an uncertain campaign for Fernando Samayoa's third tournament in charge, a complex situation for the coach, especially given that the franchise has just been sold.

Cervantes, who has captured the spotlight for his power in front of goal, only had to stay focused to accurately convert the penalty and secure the victory in the 81st minute, as befits his elite footballer status.

He moves away from Katty Martínez

With the goal and a strong start to the season, Cervantes reached 165 goals, increasing her quota as the tournament's all-time top scorer, while her closest rival, Rayadas de Monterrey striker Katty Martínez, has fallen behind with 153 goals.

Although Chivas were the better attacking team in the second half, the Querétaro players created danger with shots from Victoria Cecena, while near the end of the match, Gabriela Álvarez managed to put the ball in the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside. With this final refereeing decision, Chivas erupted into a celebration that confirmed their perfect start to the season.

For the second consecutive time, the Gallos Blancos High Performance Center hosted the Querétaro women's team's opponent in this tournament. However, the field is once again in poor condition, far from what would be expected for a professional tournament.

Unexpectedly and without any known reasons, the Queretanas changed their venue at the last minute starting on matchday one, leaving the Corregidora Stadium to play at the club's facilities. Along with Cruz Azul, they are the only teams currently not playing at home in a larger venue.

While Chivas has already won the championship twice, Querétaro has been a team that hasn't been able to establish itself in the women's tournament. Now, with Marc Spiegel's new administration, there are expectations for improved management and athletic development of the women's team.

▲ The 23-year-old midfielder arrives as one of the felines' most expensive signings. Photo courtesy of Pumas

Erendira Palma Hernández

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, July 19, 2025, p. a10

Of the three signings Pumas made this season, Pedro Vite appears to have the greatest potential. The 23-year-old midfielder is a starter for the Ecuadorian national team, comes from the Vancouver Whitecaps (in the U.S. MLS) and has a chance of making the jump to Europe. There is speculation that his contract was one of the most expensive in the history of the Auriazul squad.

I know I'm going to be a champion. I'm sorry. And in the future, if you want to remember me, let it be like the Ecuadorian boy whose dream came true , he said during his presentation as a feline player.

Vite's words resonate throughout the Pumas facilities, where the urgency of a title is clear. The Auriazules, considered one of the Big Four of Mexican soccer, face the debt of a championship, as their last title was 14 years ago. Under that pressure, they entrusted the leadership of the squad to Efraín Juárez, a former player with the team and the contact who brought in the midfielder.

Even while playing for the Whitecaps, Vite had been considered by European clubs like Benfica; however, with the 2026 World Cup in his sights, the Ecuadorian preferred to come to Liga MX, a tournament that could also serve to consolidate his position and then finalize his move to the old continent.

I don't know where I'll be in the future, but I do have my sights set on reaching Europe. And the only thing I can do to achieve that is to play, prepare well, and enjoy every moment , he said.

Already under the leadership of Efraín Juárez, who arrived at Pumas midway through last season, Vite is the third player to join the team. Previously introduced were Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who has a great track record but is recovering from injury, and full-back Alvaro Angulo, who previously worked under the Pumas coach when they played together at Atlético Nacional in Colombia.

Vite's signing also sparked speculation about his cost, which according to newspaper reports reached $7 million. "Those figures are absurd, in other words, absurd; they have nothing to do with reality. We arrived on time, took advantage of a situation, and got right to it. There are people who write only because they have fingers ," said Eduardo Saracho, Pumas' director of sporting strategy, when asked if this was the most expensive signing in the club's history.

However, the specialized transfer portal Transfermarkt indicates that the Ecuadorian's transfer is valued at $5 million, which would exceed the more than $4.6 million Pumas paid in 2022 for Leo Suárez.

With Vite's arrival, the Catalans are now focusing on securing a goalkeeper with international experience, following the unexpected departure of Alex Padilla. Costa Rican Keylor Navas had been the first option, but they were unable to secure a deal with Newell's Old Boys, so the main name being considered now is Portuguese Rui Patricio.

For now, the squad reiterated its support for youngster Rodrigo Parra, who, at 17 years old, made his debut last weekend in the 3-0 loss to Santos. "Baseball doesn't require a birth certificate ," asserted Miguel Mejía Barón, the Auriazules' vice president of sports.

Saturday, July 19, 2025

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The red team, to the semifinals

▲ In front of nearly 30,000 spectators, defending champions Spain advanced to the semifinals of the Women's Euro Cup after beating host Switzerland 2-0. The goals came from the boots of Athenea del Castillo (66) and Claudia Pina (71). Photo AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, July 19, 2025, p. a10

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