Fans and players heading to World Cup matches this week are in for a brutal welcome, as a massive “heat dome” settles across the central and eastern United States and portions of Canada during the tournament’s knockout stage.
A “heat dome” is a weather event in which a large zone of high atmospheric pressure traps heat and moisture near the surface. According to the U.S. National Weather Service, the phenomenon could push heat index readings — the “feels like” temperature — to anywhere between 105 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit across parts of the Midwest and East Coast.
The dangerous heat is expected to linger through the Fourth of July holiday weekend in the U.S., which is marking its 250th anniversary as a nation. Matches scheduled in cities including Toronto, Kansas City, East Rutherford in New Jersey, and Philadelphia will all be impacted.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alan Reppert warned that there will be no real escape from the heat, even after dark. “Even after the sun goes down, it’s still going to be very hot,” he said. “We’re at a pattern that’s really going to be hot during the good portion of the afternoon and even into the evening hours.”
Reppert noted that New York — which will host fans for a Round of 16 game at a nearby New Jersey venue on July 5 — could see its hottest temperatures since 2013. He cautioned that even evening matches would not be spared. “The sun will be down,” he said. “That will help make things better, but it’s still going to be hot.”
MANDATORY WATER BREAKS IN PLACE
The sweltering forecast has the potential to bring player health and safety back into the spotlight, an issue that surfaced a year ago during the Club World Cup, also held in the United States. At that time, FIFPRO described the extreme heat as a “wake-up call.”
For this year’s World Cup, soccer’s global governing body FIFA has put mandatory three-minute hydration breaks in place during each half of every match. Supporters of the measure say it protects athletes, while critics contend it interrupts the natural rhythm of the game. FIFA did not immediately provide comment when asked whether any additional precautions would be taken for players or spectators during the anticipated heat emergency.
Toronto, set to host a Round of 32 clash between Portugal and Croatia on Thursday, has already activated its “Heat Relief Strategy” following a heat warning issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada covering Tuesday through Friday.
Three of the World Cup venues falling under the heat dome — located in Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston — are equipped with retractable roofs and air conditioning, providing meaningful relief for those inside.
However, even getting to those air-conditioned venues can be an ordeal. The walk to the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium, for example, passes through a landscape of concrete and asphalt that soaks up and radiates heat, making the trek feel especially punishing.
An emergency department physician at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, Alina Mitina, urged fans to stay in the shade as much as possible and remain alert to warning signs of heat-related illness, such as dizziness. “Shady areas will really save lives in these types of situations,” Mitina said. “So as long as there’s lots of shade and areas to buy water, I think they’re going to be in really good shape.”
