Two World Cup matches were played in ‘severe heat’, analysis finds

Two of the first round of matches at the World Cup were played at a level of severe heat that a football players’ union has previously said should trigger the delay or postponement of games, a Guardian analysis has found. A further four games were played in cities with temperatures also beyond that level of heat, though conditions inside the stadiums were mitigated by air conditioning. Saudi Arabia’s game against Uruguay in Miami had the most severe heat conditions in the analysis of the first 24 matches of the World Cup, ie each team’s first game, in the tournament being held across the US, Mexico and Canada. The second most severe heat conditions of the first 24 matches in stadiums without AC were in Sweden v Tunisia in Monterrey. These games, despite being evening kick offs, were played amid wet-bulb temperatures of 28C (82F) or above, according to temperature and humidity data for the place and time of the games. Heat chart Fifpro, the global players’ union, has previously argued that games played at 28C or above should be delayed or postponed. Asked about the Guardian analysis, the union declined to comment on the heat situation at the World Cup. This tournament is forecast to be the hottest such tournament to be held since the quadrennial competition began in 1930. Wet-bulb temperatures are a measure of heat stress that combines air temperature, humidity and cloud cover to determine how well a human body can cool itself through sweating. …