FIFA President Gianni Infantino (55) announced that he will expand the use of indoor stadiums to prevent risks from heat during the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup.
According to the British BBC on the 13th, Infantino said, "We will actively use dome stadiums for daytime matches in the North American World Cup."
The 2026 tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It will open on June 11 and run for about five weeks until the final on July 19.
The final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Heat is the biggest variable in this tournament. In particular, the average temperature in the southern United States in July approaches 40 degrees, and recently it has risen to 38 degrees in New Jersey. There are concerns about the health and performance decline of players due to the summer tournament characteristics.
Infantino said, "The summer weather in the United States can certainly be a problem," and added, "We are exploring various response measures, including cooling breaks, grass watering, and adjusting match times."
A total of 48 countries will participate in the North American World Cup. The United States will host matches in 11 cities, including New York, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Dallas. Canada will host in Vancouver and Toronto, while Mexico will host in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara.
This World Cup will feature dome stadiums in Vancouver, Dallas, Houston, and Los Angeles.
Infantino noted, "The heat issue is a challenge we face not only in the World Cup but also in the Paris Olympics and around the world," and stated, "We will mobilize the latest technology and infrastructure to address this."
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