How Climate Change Could Slow Down the 2026 World Cup
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by: Climate Central|Published on: June 18, 2026
Data, Graphs, and MapsScientist Reviewed
6789101112
Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This interactive hub explores how heat could affect player performance across all of the 2026 World Cup matches.
- Students can browse climate data and stories for every team, match, and stadium, including forecast high temperatures and an index that measures the added impact of climate change.
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Health
Authors: Climate Central
Region: North America, Global
Languages: English, Spanish
Teaching Materials
Classroom Implementation:
- Have students explore the interactive website; then, facilitate a discussion about the controversial mandatory hydration breaks instituted by FIFA this year.
- As a class, discuss whether it is fair for weather to affect teams differently, and generalize this idea to think about environmental justice.
- Use the Climate Shift Index as an entry point to discuss probability and how scientists attribute the influence of climate change on specific events.
Extensions:
- Engage students in a design process where they choose a World Cup stadium or local sports venue to retrofit for extreme heat conditions under a set of constraints.
- Consider how sports also affect climate change with this podcast by Olympians Etienne Stott and Laura Baldwin.
This resource analyzes how climate change is impacting player performance in the 2026 World Cup matches. A complete methodology is available, which cites peer-reviewed literature and relies on the trusted NOAA Global Forecast System. This resource explores how climate change is impacting sports’ largest global event and is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
Climate Central
Climate Central is an independent group of scientists and communicators who research and report the facts about our changing climate and how it affects people’s lives.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
