The global football players’ association, FIFPRO, is looking into the possibility of extending halftime to 20 minutes and incorporating more regular cooling breaks to enhance player protection in extreme heat conditions.
Out of the 16 cities set to host the 2026 World Cup, nine are expected to encounter situations classified as “extreme risk” for heat-related illnesses.
Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Guadalajara, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Monterrey, and Philadelphia are anticipated to endure perilous levels of heat and humidity, raising concerns over player safety and intensifying calls for mandatory cooling measures or adjustments to scheduling.
FIFPRO’s assessments regarding heat risk utilise the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) metric, which factors in temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind speed to determine how well the body can regulate its temperature in given environmental conditions.
According to FIFPRO’s standards, a WBGT reading exceeding 28 degrees Celsius signals that matches should be postponed or rescheduled in order to safeguard player well-being.
In contrast, FIFA sets its extreme risk threshold at 32 degrees Celsius WBGT; however, even under FIFA’s criteria, six of the nine host cities are still projected to surpass the safe limits.
Major League Soccer in the United States observes a threshold of 29 degrees Celsius WBGT.
“Traditional cooling breaks at the 30th and 75th minutes are commonplace, but from a physiological standpoint, this approach is flawed,” remarked Vincent Gouttebarge, Medical Director of FIFPRO.
“Even if players consume more than 200 millilitres of liquid, their bodies cannot absorb it all. Therefore, I would advocate for the idea of implementing shorter but more frequent cooling breaks—perhaps every 15 minutes rather than just the standard breaks in each half.”
Extended Halftime
Gouttebarge also raised concerns regarding the adequacy of the conventional 15-minute halftime break when contests are held under extreme heat.
“It is reasonable to suggest that a mere 15-minute halftime may not be sufficient to lower core temperatures,” he stated.
“A 20-minute halftime could have a significant impact. This concept has been validated in laboratory tests, and in August, FIFPRO, in collaboration with the Portuguese national union, will be trialling this mitigation strategy.”
The imperative for stronger heat management protocols was highlighted during this month’s Club World Cup, where two matches—Benfica versus Bayern Munich in Charlotte and Chelsea versus Esperance in Philadelphia—exceeded the unsafe WBGT threshold set by FIFPRO.
“In our view, these matches should have either been postponed or rescheduled later in the day,” Gouttebarge commented.
FIFPRO officials acknowledged that FIFA has proactively addressed issues during the tournament, including lowering thresholds for mandatory cooling breaks and enhancing hydration resources on the field, but emphasised the importance of advance planning.
“FIFA has been responsive to the circumstances as the tournament unfolded,” stated Alex Phillips, General Secretary of FIFPRO.
“They have made adjustments in their handling of heat management during matches based on FIFPRO’s feedback, which is commendable. Naturally, it would have been preferable for these changes to have been implemented beforehand, but it’s a positive step that they’ve adapted now.”
FIFPRO cautioned that the issues presented during the Club World Cup serve as a warning for what players might encounter during the expanded 2026 World Cup.
“This issue extends beyond the Club World Cup; it will also affect future tournaments held in the U.S. or other locations worldwide,” added Alexander Bielefeld, FIFPRO’s Director of Policy & Strategic Relations.
“There must be a better equilibrium between commercial interests and the health and safety of players,” he noted, referencing earlier kickoff times designed to cater to European broadcast audiences.
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Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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