A fundamentally different climate

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaching across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the question of heat and extreme weather has moved to the centre of pre-tournament conversation. New research by Climate Central found that 97 of the 104 scheduled matches face a higher probability of encountering conditions that impair player performance — defined as temperatures exceeding 28C. Fourteen of the 16 venues are expected to reach dangerous heat levels, including England's base camp in Kansas City.

Sky Sports News spoke with climate scientist Dr Ella Gilbert to understand what players, fans, and officials can expect — and what the future of the World Cup might look like.

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