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August 27, 2026
As the climate changes, summer sports are changing too. This summer’s 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada implemented a new heat-conscious hydration policy to protect its players from an unusually hot North American summer. The policy was imposed in response to the extreme heat players faced in the 2025 Club World Cup which was also hosted by the United States. It required all games to pause at the midpoint of each half for a three-minute hydration break regardless of environmental conditions. With this policy, soccer became an example on the international stage of how summer sports are adapting to extreme heat.
FIFA’s revised policy, which had previously left hydration breaks to referee discretion based on environmental conditions, proved necessary. The tournament was held during the second-warmest June on record, and during the latter half players competed as unprecedented heat domes hovered over many parts of North America throughout July. Of the 104 matches held over the two months, 20 were played in conditions with Wet Bulb Globe Temperatures (WBGT) reaching or surpassing 28 degrees Celsius (82.4°F), which FIFA’s heat guidelines consider a moderate to extreme risk for heat-related illness. One match held in Miami reached a WBGT of 91.4°F and a “feels like” temperature of 113°F—an extreme risk according to FIFA guidelines. FIFA’s decision to hold matches in such conditions disregarded recommendations from health experts and the players’ union FIFPRO (Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels) to delay or postpone matches at lower temperature thresholds.
Adaptations in event and venue design are critical for the future of summer sports. By 2050, 90% of the host stadiums used for the 2026 World Cup will experience dangerous levels of extreme heat unless adaptations are made. Nearly all the countries bidding to host the 2036 Summer Olympic Games will face serious heat risks unless they shift the competitions to a cooler season. As summer months continue to put up record-breaking temperatures, athletic organizations and leagues across the world are finding ways to protect their players, fans, and workers from the dangers of extreme heat.
For summer athletes, the health risks of outdoor competition can be deadly. Core body temperatures rise during strenuous activity, and heat exhaustion occurs when the body is unable to release this heat. The onset of heat exhaustion can begin when core body temperatures hit 101°F (38.3°C), which can be reached in just 20 minutes of high intensity activity in low-risk temperatures. Once core body temperatures reach 104°F or higher, heatstroke occurs. If not treated quickly, heatstroke can result in damage to vital organs and even death.
Dehydration is typically the first symptom of heat exhaustion. As sweat rates increase and dehydration worsens, complex motor and cognitive tasks become more difficult. Alongside dehydration, high levels of relative humidity can reduce rates of heat loss and cause core temperatures to rise quicker, worsening risks of heat illness. Relative humidity levels between 60% and 80% can limit overall exercise capacity and cause athletes to fatigue earlier, which can make them vulnerable to other forms of injury.
Athletes’ performance is not the only thing negatively affected by extreme heat. Attitudes toward outdoor activities shift as temperatures heat up and spending time outside becomes less attractive. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), physical inactivity resulting from climate change and nature loss is projected to place $3 billion in revenue for professional and elite sports at risk by 2030. The sports industry as a whole could see up to 18% of revenues lost by 2050, amounting to a total loss of $1.6 trillion. Declines in sporting good sales, reduced media activity, and lower rates of sports tourism all contribute to losses for connected industries and economies.
Sports tourism is projected to account for 60% of the sport industry’s revenue growth up until 2030, and many countries and localities rely on this revenue to boost their economies. However, fewer cities will be able to host sporting events and reap these economic benefits as extreme heat worsens. By the end of the century, the number of viable host cities for the Olympic marathon will drop by up to 27%.
Revenues from media and related industries may also witness a decline. The WEF found that outdoor activities are associated with 76% of sponsorship revenues in professional sports and more than 90% of media rights. As hot temperatures during competitions become more frequent, so do event cancellations and rescheduling. Advertisements and sponsorships that would have been shown during the match miss out on their promised screen time, and broadcasts that expected large audiences are left disappointed.
Many of the current extreme heat policies and regulations from professional athletic leagues are outdated. Prior to this year’s World Cup, FIFA’s heat guidelines had remained untouched for nearly 20 years. Formal league-wide policies for extreme heat protocols ensure athletes are prepared and protected. Heat guidelines and thresholds that require monitoring WBGT or ambient (dry) temperatures before and during games offer consistency for player safety. Codified databases tracking temperatures and any heat illnesses affecting players and officials can help inform and improve heat management practices.
Planning events with extreme heat in mind can further prevent heat stress in players. Acclimatization periods—intentional time set aside before competitions for athletes to adapt to new environments—can be effective at preparing players for hot conditions. Practicing in high temperatures can enhance aerobic capacity in less than a week. Coordinating with venues and broadcasting companies to schedule games during cooler parts of the day or year, ensuring access to cooling resources, and selecting venues that are climate controlled or in temperate areas are additional ways of keeping players safe.
Building and retrofitting sport venues with updated cooling and ventilation systems and other energy-efficient cooling measures can effectively mitigate the effects of extreme heat and reduce costs. Passive cooling systems that leverage a location’s natural ventilation patterns can be incorporated into stadiums to relieve spectators from the heat while using less energy, which lowers electricity bills and reduces grid congestion. SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles has pioneered passive cooling and other cooling infrastructure, such as energy-efficient canopies. Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta has a retractable roof and energy-efficient cooling systems, and consumes nearly 30% less energy than the average stadium. Energy-efficient cooling technologies can both mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and lower costs by requiring less energy to cool the stadium.
Passive and Sustainable Cooling Systems
If you want to learn more about passive and sustainable cooling systems, check out this article from EESI.
Federal incentives can be useful tools to encourage these stadium renovations. Section 179D amendments from the Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169) offered federal tax deductions for energy-efficient upgrades for new and retrofitted commercial buildings, but the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21) terminated the deductions for all projects beginning after June 30, 2026. States are beginning to enact legislation to subsidize infrastructure upgrades for professional athletics stadiums and facilities, including cooling infrastructure improvements. Arizona (H.B.2704), Missouri (S.B.3), and Oregon (S.B.110) all enacted legislation to redirect tax revenue to fund stadium improvements.
Athletes are not the only group at risk. Fans, officials, and event workers are also vulnerable to heat stress during competitions, and they often do not receive the same resources and attention as the players on the field do. During the 2024 international soccer tournament Copa America, hosted by the United States, multiple fans suffered from heat-related illnesses in a parking lot before entering the stadium. More than 100 people at a 2026 FIFA World Cup fan festival in Houston, Texas, were treated for heat stress. Spaces where fans and event workers spend time—parking lots, metal and plastic stands—have minimal shade and attract heat easily. Designating spaces where fans and workers can cool off during games and providing more shaded areas can safeguard them from heat’s dangers.
State standards and heat plans for stadium workers offer another layer of protection. California, Washington State, and Maryland are some states that have implemented heat policies employers must adhere to for employee safety, such as mandatory paid breaks and acclimatization periods. A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was issued in August 2024 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to establish a federal Heat Injury and Illness Prevention standard. The rulemaking process has stalled and the House Education and Workforce Committee has narrowly advanced legislation to prevent any further progress. However, OSHA’s National Emphasis Program on heat-related hazards was recently revised and extended until 2031.
Adaptation to extreme heat is not new for the sports industry. After more than 100 athletes experienced heat-related illnesses at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) developed new heat contingency plans for the following 2024 Paris Games and provided cooling stations and shaded areas to keep athletes comfortable. The plans were well timed, as the Paris Games were held during what turned out to be the warmest year on record. Earlier this year, the Los Angeles Marathon offered an option to finish the race at Mile 18 instead of the traditional 26.2-mile mark as temperatures rose to 88°F. Every Grand Slam tennis venue has installed retractable roofs and both the Association of Tennis Professionals and the Women’s Tennis Association have league-wide heat protections. Precedents exist for effective change to be made.
Protecting Youth Athletes
Youth sports are often overlooked when discussing heat adaptations. Each year, over 9,000 high school athletes in the United States receive treatment for heat-related injuries. While it is difficult to implement standardized heat solutions across the wide variety of states and leagues governing youth sports, the ambition and action of professional sports around heat adaptation can serve as an example and an inspiration for young athletes and leagues. Hear more about changing the athletic “culture of toughness” from the top down in this episode from EESI’s The Climate Conversation podcast.
The 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games (LA28) are serving as an example for how to incorporate extreme heat in planning efforts as the United States and the IOC work to ensure protection for all participants. The Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the Games has partnered with local universities and agencies on ShadeLA, an initiative to provide canopy and shade infrastructure across the city for LA28. The City of Los Angeles has also been working to coordinate heat mitigation strategies and heat action plans for the 2028 Games and other large-scale sporting events to be hosted in Los Angeles.
The sports industry has the opportunity to establish industry-wide solutions for player safety and formalize conversations that center on extreme weather and climate change. Establishing heat guidelines, adopting innovative and efficient venue design, and enacting strong incentives offer an adaptive foundation for leagues and organizations to ensure that athletes can continue to perform at their best under the eyes of their awestruck fans.
Author: Megan Davies
The thumbnail image for this article was sourced from Wikimedia Commons
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