New York: World Cup heat dome conditions could expose fans and players to dangerous temperatures this week as knockout matches continue across the United States and Canada.
The U.S. National Weather Service expected heat indices of 105 to 115°F in parts of the Midwest and East Coast.
AccuWeather reported that dangerous heat would test World Cup fans and players through the July 4 holiday period. Toronto, Kansas City, East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Philadelphia could feel the heat.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alan Reppert said evening matches could still be hot because temperatures would remain elevated after sunset.
FIFA said all 2026 World Cup matches include three-minute hydration breaks in each half to support player welfare.
The conditions could renew player-safety concerns raised during last year’s Club World Cup in the United States.
Toronto put its Heat Relief Strategy into effect after Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a heat warning from Tuesday through Friday.
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Atlanta, Dallas and Houston have retractable roofs and air conditioning at tournament venues, offering relief from the heat inside stadiums.
Alina Mitina, an emergency department physician at Hackensack University Medical Centre in New Jersey, said fans should seek shade and watch for heat-illness symptoms, including dizziness.
