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Expect a FIFA stadium at World Cup 2026 to have a covered roof against heat concerns, president Gianni Infantino said, amid humid conditions.
Likewise, Infantino assured that football’s governing body addresses soaring temperatures to protect the players.
FIFA STADIUM TO COMBAT SWELTERING HEAT WITH RETRACTABLE ROOF FOR DAYTIME MATCHES
A FIFA stadium that will combat sweltering heat hopes to be covered with retractable roof for daytime matches.
Infantino addressed the issue at the Club World Cup 2025 final on Sunday.
He called the current heat conditions “an issue all over the world.”
Nevertheless, the FIFA president believes playing matches at domed stadiums will complement other measures FIFA had enforced regarding these concerns.
“Of course, the heat is definitely an issue, it’s an issue all over the world,” Infantino said in New York.
“We need to look at what we can do better. We can see how we can do things better,” he added.
DOME FIFA STADIUM TO COMPLEMENT COOLING BREAKS, WATERING THE PITCH
Additionally, Infantino believes using domed FIFA stadium will complement implementing cooling breaks in between matches and watering the pitch.
What’s more, the 55-year-old Swiss-Italian official welcomes the flak FIFA draw from critics for staging Club World Cup matches in searing heat conditions.
Also, temperatures in the US soared from 28 Degrees to 35 Degrees Celsius the past few weeks.
“Every criticism we receive is a source for us to study and analyze what we can do better,” Infantino said.
“(But) we have stadiums with roofs and will definitely use these stadiums during the day next year,” he added.
ADD MORE COVERED STADIUMS IN TIME FOR WORLD CUP
Organizers should also address the lack of stadiums with retractable roofs in the US.
Also, most of the only four US stadiums with covered roofs are NFL (National Football League) stadiums designed for winter.
This means the facilities seek to keep the heat rather than out.
Nonetheless, it remains uncertain if FIFA will entertain calls to stage more night matches during World Cup 2026.
“In America, as well as in Canada for next year – in Vancouver – we have stadiums as well which are covered,” Infantino said.
“But of course, these are questions that we have to study,” he added.
CLIMATOLOGISTS URGE FIFA TO LOWER TEMPERATURE THRESHOLD FOR PLAYERS’ SAFETY
Meanwhile, climatologists have urged FIFA to lower its temperature threshold to ensure the players’ safety.
For this reason, Christopher Tyler, a reader in Environment Physiology at the University of Roehampton wants FIFA to set a limit on matches to be delayed or postponed at 82.4 Degrees Fahrenheit.
Consequently, he is convinced FIFA matches may be compromised as they slow down during soaring heat conditions.
“FIFA would argue that it works because they haven’t seen enough medical complications at that temperature or above,” Tyler told The Athletic.
“But the argument against that is that players are probably slowing down and changing how they are playing, so they’re not getting ill,” he added.
Visit our FIFA World Cup 2026 website for more football news and other updates.
