English
Vietnamese
The FIFA World Cup 2026 start time change is being pushed on Sunday, with FIFPro and coach Niko Kovac among its early proponents.
Furthermore, weather conditions in the United States, as well as the players’ welfare, were cited as factors.
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 STARTING KICK-OFF TIMES NEED TO MOVE TO COOLER CONDITIONS: FIFPRO
The FIFA World Cup 2026 starting kick-off times, FIFPro said, need to move to cooler conditions.
The international players’ union cited temperatures of 30 Degrees Celsius in the US.
FIFPro’s chief medical officer, Professor Vincent Gouttebarge, also raised additional concerns.
He is advocating for longer half-time breaks – extended from 15 to 20 minutes – as well as more frequent drink breaks.
The US is co-hosting the global showcase along with Canada and Mexico in June next year.
“Only giving players 15 minutes is not enough at these temperatures – you cannot ingest enough in such a short time,” Gouttebarge told The Times.
He added: “there are some venues where games played during the afternoon are likely to be very extreme for the health and performance of the players.“
KOVAC CITES PROTECTION FOR PLAYERS AGAINST MIDDAY SUN IN CHANGING START TIMES
Kovac cites the need for FIFA to protect the players against the midday sun.
The Borussia Dortmund coach said Real Madrid endured temperatures near 100 Degrees Fahrenheit.
He added that conditions in New Jersey remained sweltering even at pitch level during matches.
“The players should not have to work in the midday sun when it is (so hot) you should not even leave your house,” the 53-year-old Croatian manager said.
“In these conditions, these players had to bring their top performance,” he added.
CLUB WORLD CUP CONDITIONS A WAKE-UP CALL FOR USA, SAYS UNION OFFICIAL
Club World Cup 2025 sparks player safety concerns amid heat risks in U.S. host cities
The ongoing Club World Cup 2025 should serve as a wake-up call for the United States, a union official warned.
This as concerns mount over extreme heat conditions affecting player safety.
According to FIFPro Director of Global Policy Alexander Bielefeld, nine of the tournament’s 16 host cities are classified as having a “very high” or “extremely high” risk of heat stress injuries.
“It’s clear that certain areas in the USA, especially in Florida, (have) a higher risk and a need to avoid midday kickoffs,” the official said.
“The health and safety of players must take priority over commercial interests, including the broadcasters,” he added.
Visit our FIFA World Cup 2026 website for more football news and other updates.
