Fifa should start World Cup Final at 9am, experts warn

The Club World Cup should be a “wake up call.” 

The 2026 World Cup will be played in the USA, Canada, and Mexico from the 11th of June to the 19th of July next year. 

Since the maiden edition of The Club World Cup began last month, the US has been struck by a record heatwave, with temperatures soaring as high as 39C and dozens hospitalised. 

When Qatar — where typical summer temperatures rise to well over 40C — hosted the 2022 World Cup, key preparations were made to mitigate the risks caused by the heat. 

The event was ultimately moved to the winter and games was hosted in purpose-built shaded and air conditioned stadiums. 

New York’s MetLife Stadium, which will host eight matches at the World Cup including the final, has no roof and features limited shade for those inside.

Fans will face the same situation at most host stadiums across US, Canada and Mexico. 

Now experts are saying the drastic weather that has impacted the Club World Cup should be a “wake up call” for organisers ahead of next year’s marquee tournament. 

Professor Mike Tipton of Portsmouth University, a leading specialist on the effect of extreme temperature on the human body, told BBC Sport: "I'd move it to an air-conditioned stadium with a roof, and preferably to a cooler time of the year.”

"But we're already stuck with this, so the only thing you can do is go to a cooler time of day.”

Professor Tipton even suggested changing a football rule that has been part of the sport since the 19th Century might be the answer. 

"Fifa should be thinking about where, when and how they play such games. It's not beyond the realms that matches have to go to quarters rather than halves,” he added. 

"The health risks are not purely to the players, it's also the officials and spectators, many of whom are much, much less fit. If you continue in conditions when all the rational scientific data says 'stop', organisers are taking on a fair amount of responsibility. What would probably happen is the game would be changed radically."

These calls to drastically change the structure of next year’s World Cup have been echoed by player’s union Fifpro who have called the Club World Cup a “wake up call.” 

Their medical director added to the changes suggested by Professor Tipton, by suggesting half-time breaks should be extended to 20-minutes.