As France vs Paraguay at the 2026 World Cup drew attention for its sweltering conditions, surpassing 100 degrees Fahrenheit, a grimmer chapter from World Cup history puts that heat into perspective. The actual record belongs to Mexico and Ireland, who clashed at USA 1994 in temperatures exceeding 110 degrees Fahrenheit — conditions that sports scientists would consider genuinely dangerous for any human being, let alone elite athletes.

Conditions that defied belief

Medical guidance universally advises against outdoor physical exertion once temperatures climb above 90–100 degrees Fahrenheit. For context, Mexico and Ireland played in 43-degree Celsius heat, and reports from the time indicate more than 100 spectators in the crowd collapsed or passed out from the heat alone.

Ireland international Jason McAteer later recalled the experience in vivid terms, describing his teammates as