# The Heat and Humidity of World Cup 2026: A Risk to Player Safety?
The 2026 men’s World Cup is set to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. However, England Lioness Rachel Daly – who played for Houston Dash in the NWSL – believes the humidity and heat in the area could be a risk to player safety during afternoon games.
Daly experienced the effects of heat exhaustion first-hand after collapsing at the end of a match in Texas in 2017. She is now calling on organisers of the Fifa tournament to look closely at the scheduling of kick-off times to ensure player safety.
## The Risks of Playing in Hot and Humid Conditions
Playing in hot and humid conditions can be extremely dangerous for players. High temperatures can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, all of which can have serious consequences.
Heat exhaustion is a condition that can occur when the body is unable to cool itself down properly. Symptoms include heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue. If left untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, which can cause confusion, seizures, and even death.
## How Can Player Safety Be Improved?
In order to reduce the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, it is important that players are given adequate time to rest and cool down. This means that organisers should consider scheduling kick-off times for afternoon games during cooler parts of the day.
In addition, players should be encouraged to drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after matches. This will help to ensure that they remain hydrated and are less likely to experience heat-related illnesses.
## Conclusion
The 2026 men’s World Cup is set to be held in areas with high levels of humidity and heat. This could pose a risk to player safety if kick-off times are not carefully considered. In order to reduce the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, organisers should look at scheduling matches during cooler parts of the day and encouraging players to drink plenty of fluids.