Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández has issued a stark warning regarding the extreme weather conditions experienced during the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States, describing the high temperatures and humidity as “very dangerous” for players. Fernández’s comments have prompted widespread debate about player welfare, match scheduling, and preparations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
During Chelsea’s semi-final match against Fluminense at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey—kicked off at 3 pm local time—Fernández recalled being overcome by heat in conditions exceeding 35 °C (95 °F) with humidity above 54 %, ultimately feeling dizzy and needing to lie down on the pitch mid-game. He emphasized that playing in such heat not only threatens player health but also diminishes the quality of football, saying the pace slows dramatically and the attraction for fans both in-stadium and at home suffers.
Fernández urged FIFA to revisit scheduling decisions for future tournaments, particularly the 2026 World Cup, suggesting that evening kick-offs or alternative timing should be seriously considered to preserve both player safety and spectacle. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca echoed these remarks, stating that holding afternoon training sessions in U.S. cities like Philadelphia had become virtually impossible due to heat conditions. Chelsea defender Levi Colwill also commented, observing that the heat forced tactical adjustments—emphasizing more control and selective attacking because the game slowed considerably in such weather.
These player and staff complaints track broader concerns across the tournament host cities. Media reports confirm that multiple Club World Cup matches took place in temperatures soaring into the high 30s Celsius, triggering heat alerts, thunderstorm delays, and even forced substitutions due to heat exhaustion, including in teams like Juventus.
These issues also raise red flags for next year’s 48‑team World Cup. Observers, including Jamie O’Hara, have warned that the U.S.–Mexico–Canada summer environment—with temperatures expected to eclipse 40 °C (104 °F) in some cities—will pose serious threats to performance and health without major adjustments such as air‑conditioned stadiums or revised match windows (ESPN.com). Data shared by players’ union FIFPRO indicates that several games during the Club World Cup breached a Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) safety threshold of 28° C, a metric used to guide cooling breaks and postponements.
FIFA’s football development head Arsène Wenger acknowledged that extreme heat had affected games, and explained that organizers experimented with cooling breaks and extra watering of pitches. Looking ahead, Wenger said FIFA is considering the use of roofed or covered stadiums in cities like Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Houston to mitigate conditions in future tournaments—but insisted clubs broadly supported the new format despite criticism.
The Club World Cup—marketed as a $1 billion debut featuring 32 clubs—has provided a preview of what hosting major football during U.S. summer months might entail. Despite attracting top-tier clubs like Chelsea and PSG, the event experienced poor attendance in large stadiums, underwhelming audience engagement, and weather disruptions including lengthy storm delays.
Fernández’s warning now becomes a clarion call: without adjustments to kick-off times, venue infrastructure, and player welfare protocols, summer tournaments in North America risk not only compromised performance but acute health hazards. His appeal carries added weight given his status as a 2022 World Cup winner, signaling that the current scheduling and logistical model—designed largely for European broadcast windows—may be ill-suited for the climatic realities of North American summers .
In summary, Enzo Fernández’s remarks underscore a critical challenge: balancing global broadcasting demands and organizational plans with the physical limits of players and the expectations of fans. The Club World Cup may have been a test run. Now, all eyes turn to FIFA: will they heed the warnings—or repeat the same mistakes during the 2026 World Cup?
