Tue Jul 01 03:50:00 UTC 2025: **FIFPRO Raises Concerns Over Extreme Heat, Thunderstorms at Club World Cup, Urges FIFA to Reconsider Midday Kickoffs for 2026 World Cup**

**FORT LAUDERDALE, FL** – Global players’ union FIFPRO is calling on FIFA to address concerns about extreme heat and disruptive weather conditions impacting the ongoing Club World Cup in the United States. The organization claims that two matches, Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atlético Madrid and Chelsea vs. Esperance, should have been postponed due to temperatures exceeding their recommended safety threshold.

FIFPRO’s medical director, Dr. Vincent Gouttebarge, stated that the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), a metric combining temperature, humidity, and solar radiation, surpassed FIFPRO’s limit of 28 degrees Celsius during those games. FIFA’s own guideline limit is 32 degrees. Gouttebarge argued these matches should have been moved to cooler times or rescheduled altogether.

The concerns extend to potential issues during the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. FIFPRO has identified cities like Miami and Orlando as high-risk locations due to the likelihood of extreme heat, and urges FIFA to avoid midday kickoffs in these areas.

“Think about match destinations such as Orlando or Miami for example, where you can see over a period of years that there’s a higher risk attached to these venues and destinations,” said Alexander Bielefeld, FIFPRO director of policy and strategic relations. “The question is if we actually need midday kickoff times in these locations or in these high risk areas, if we should probably move towards late kickoff times as a preference for these venues.”

The tournament has already seen disruptions, including a two-hour delay during Chelsea’s 4-1 victory over Benfica in Charlotte due to thunderstorms. Players and coaches, including Atlético’s Marcos Llorente and Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca, have voiced their worries about the challenging conditions.

FIFPRO general secretary Alex Phillips said the organization would “plead” with FIFA to heed their concerns, citing MLS’s policy of avoiding midday matches in Florida as a strong argument. Phillips also confirmed that some players have contacted their unions to express their worries.

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