How the National Weather Service plans weather safety for the FIFA World Cup
Al Ain's Park Yong-woo cools off during the Club World Cup Group G soccer match between Wydad AC and Al Ain FC in Washington, Thursday, June 26, 2025. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
The FIFA World Cup is considered the ultimate competition in international soccer.
But there are many weather concerns ahead of the FIFA World Cup. Extreme heat, storms and even hurricanes might put stadiums and players at risk.
The National Weather Service is working with local emergency management agencies to monitor extreme weather during the FIFA World Cup.
Scientific Reports reports that 10 out of the 16 sites of the 2026 FIFA World Cup are at very high risk of experiencing extreme heat stress conditions. Seven of these sites are located in the United States.
The World Cup happens to also coincide with the Atlantic Hurricane Season, potentially affecting stadiums in Houston and Miami here in the United States.
Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Department of Climate, Meteorology, and Atmospheric Sciences, Joseph Trujillo Falcon and World Cup Planning Lead at the National Weather Service, Stephanie Sipprell talk about how the National Weather Service is mitigating weather concerns.
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