Prospective heat stress risk assessment for professional soccer players in the context of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

This study investigates the risk of severe heat stress and associated potential water losses in professional soccer players, considering as well the oxygen content of the inhaled air in the context of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For the 16 stadiums, hourly values of biometeorological indices (adjusted Universal Thermal Climate Index - UTCI, Water loss - SW and Oxygen volume - Ov) were calculated. UTCI adjustments included modifications to activity levels, movement speeds and clothing configurations to better reflect the level of thermal stress on soccer player during a match. Ten out of the sixteen sites of the 2026 FIFA World Cup are at very high risk of experiencing extreme heat stress conditions. The highest risk of uncompensable thermal stress due to very high average hourly UTCI values above 49.5 °C and excessive water loss (> 1.5 kg/h) occur in the afternoon in stadiums located in Arlington, Houston (USA) and in Monterrey (Mexico). The results of this study will enable optimization of match schedules at individual venues, taking into account the health risks associated with extreme heat stress, but also the physiological reactions to heat potentially affecting the performance of players on the pitch.