As temperatures climbed toward 90°F at Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium on Saturday, Borussia Dortmund faced off against South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns. During the match, the German club shared a social media post that read: “Our substitutes watched the first half from the locker room to stay out of the blazing sun — never seen that before, but in this heat, it absolutely makes sense.”
The post included a photo showing the substitutes — typically seated pitchside — instead relaxing indoors in shorts and T-shirts, gathered around a drink-laden table.
Concerns over extreme heat had already been voiced by players, coaches, and fans during the opening week of the Club World Cup — and with a heatwave sweeping across the United States in the coming days, temperatures are expected to climb even higher. Participants have shared their concerns with The Athletic, while experts are urging FIFA to take preemptive action.
“The match was clearly affected by the heat,” said Luis Enrique, head coach of European champions Paris Saint-Germain, after their opener against Atletico Madrid in Los Angeles, which kicked off at noon local time. “It’s a great time slot for European viewers, but the teams are struggling.”
In the week ahead, much of the country is forecast to see even more intense heat, including cities hosting football matches. Of the 11 host cities — including two venues in Orlando — eight are located along the East Coast, with the Northeast expected to bear the brunt of the heatwave
According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the temperature in New York is expected to pass 100F (37.8C) by Tuesday and an extreme heat warning has been in place for Philadelphia from Sunday until the end of the week.
In Nashville, Tennessee, which hosts Auckland City vs Boca Juniors on Tuesday at 2pm local time, the temperature could get to 98F (36.7C). There is a similar forecast on Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Benfica take on Bayern Munich at 3pm local time (99F, 37.2C).
Afternoon kick-offs on Wednesday and Thursday in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Washington, D.C, respectively, could take place in heat in the mid-90s, too.
The timing of matches in this tournament is a concern, with 35 of the 63 fixtures kicking off earlier than 5pm, and 15 of those starting at midday. Only two of those 12pm games are being held in Atlanta, where the roof can provide some protection for players.
