As the FIFA World Cup 2026 progresses across North America, heat and humidity are emerging as major factors — and Scotland are at the sharp end. With games against Morocco and Brazil looming, Steve Clarke's side must manage the conditions as carefully as they manage the ball.

Hotter conditions to come

Scotland's opening victory over Haiti in Boston was played at around 25C — relatively manageable by World Cup standards. However, their return to Boston to face Morocco on Friday brings an earlier kick-off time of 23:00 BST, and forecasts put temperatures at roughly 27C at kick-off.

The challenge intensifies further for the final group game in Miami against Brazil next Wednesday. Temperatures could exceed 30C, and with humidity approaching 80 percent, the heat index will feel far more punishing than the thermometer alone suggests.

How Scotland have prepared

Scotland moved proactively, flying to Fort Lauderdale at the start of June to begin acclimatising as early as possible. Sun cream, ice buckets, and intensive training sessions under the Florida sun marked their preparation, which concluded with a warm-up win over Bolivia in New York.

Their base in Charlotte, North Carolina — positioned roughly between Boston and Miami — has recorded temperatures of up to 30C. Even before departing for the United States, several squad members visited the University of the West of Scotland to use its extreme environments chamber, which replicated Florida's conditions.

Vish Unnithan, a professor of sports science and exercise physiology at the university, told BBC Scotland that the preparation appears to be paying off.