The Global Fifpro Player Union is exploring if the first half extension in 20 minutes and the presentation of the most frequent cooling holidays could better protect players from extreme heat.

Nine out of the 16 host cities for the Facial conditions of the World Cup 2026 are considered “extreme risk” to heat -related disease.

Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Guadalajara, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Monterrey and Philadelphia are expected to face hazardous heat and humidity levels, presenting concerns about player safety and incitement to mandatory cooling assistance or program changes.

FIFPR heat risk estimates are based on the globe of the wet lamp (WBGT), a measure that combines temperature, humidity, solar radiation and wind speed to assess how environmental conditions affect the body’s ability to cool itself.

According to Fifpro’s instructions, a WBGT reading over 28 degrees Celsius shows conditions in which matches must be postponed or planned to protect the health of players.

By comparison, its own football body guidelines FIFA place the threshold of extreme higher risk, at 32 degrees Celsius WBGT – but also from the standard, six of the nine cities are still projected to exceed safe borders.

Major League Soccer in the SH.BA has a threshold of 29 degrees Celsius WBGT.

“Cooling breaks in the 30th minute and 75 minutes are quite traditional, but from a physiological point of view it makes no sense,“Said Vincent GouttebaBa, Fifpro Medical Director.

“Even if you consume more than 200 milliliters of juice, you can’t already get them all. So I would definitely like to see any project where we see the efficiency of the holidays perhaps more frequent but shorter cooling – every 15 minutes, rather than just one during each half”

Longer

Gouttebarge also asked if the traditional 15-minute interval of stopping time is sufficient when matches are played in extreme heat.

“You can imagine that half of 15 minutes may not be enough in order to lower the essential temperature“He said.

“It can be a first part of 20 minutes that would be important. This is shown in the laboratory and Fifpro, along with the National Union in Portugal in August, we will test this type of mitigation strategy.“

The emergency of the strongest heat protocols became clear in the World Cup of this month’s club where two matches – Benfica–Bayern Munich in Charlotte and Chelsea–Greeting In Philadelphia exceeded the WBGT Fifpro threshold considers uncertain.

“According to our position, those games should have been postponed later that day or planned,“Said GouttebaBa.

Fifpro officials admitted that FIFA has responded constructively during the tournament by reducing thresholds for mandatory cooling breaks and improving hydration on the side of the pitch, but stressed that proactive planning is critical.

“FIFA have been quite responsible after the tournament was developed,“Said Alex Phillips, Fifpro Secretary General.

“They have actually modified how they were dealing with Heat during matches based on Fifpro’s contribution, which is a team’s credit. Of course, it would be better if this were to happen in advance, but it is best for them to be adapted”

Fifpro warned that the risks highlighted in the club’s World Cup are an observation of what players can face in the 2026 expanded World Cup.

“This is not only touching the Club World Cup, but also future tournaments either in the SH.BA or elsewhere in the world“Said Alexander Bielefeld, Director of Fifpro Strategic Policies and Relations.

“We need a better balance between trade interests and the health and safety of players“He added, referring to the early times of starting to accommodate European television audiences.

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