Club World Cup Heat Crisis Raises Alarms for 2026 World Cup in U.S

In the first 4 days of the Club World Cup in the United States:

- Empty stadiums

- Players complaining about intense heat during the day

- Multiple matches suspended due to adverse weather conditions

A reminder that USA is one of the host countries for the next World Cup. 

The opening days of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States have exposed several problems. Despite FIFA claiming 1.5 million tickets sold, many stadiums have appeared half-empty, especially for matches without global stars. While marquee games like Inter Miami vs. Al Ahly and PSG vs. Atletico Madrid drew over 60,000 fans, matches like Chelsea vs. LAFC in Atlanta had just over 22,000 people in a 75,000-seat venue. Many blame the lack of turnout on weekday midday kickoffs, difficulties in getting visas, security fears related to immigration enforcement, and the use of oversized NFL stadiums.

On the pitch, players are struggling with extreme heat. Multiple matches have kicked off under high temperatures, especially in open-air venues like the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Temperatures during the PSG match reached nearly 32°C, triggering official cooling breaks. Players and coaches have voiced concerns about how these conditions are affecting performance and safety. A worsening heatwave is expected in the eastern U.S. in the coming days, raising more concerns about the tournament’s scheduling and player welfare. With the 2026 World Cup also scheduled for the summer in similar cities, organizers are being urged to re-evaluate kickoff times, improve cooling measures, and consider evening matches.

see also: Messi’s Free-Kick Heroics Fire Inter Miami to Historic Club World Cup Win Over Porto

see also: Messi’s Free-Kick Heroics Fire Inter Miami to Historic Club World Cup Win Over Porto

Weather has added to the challenges. Within the first four days, at least three matches have been delayed due to lightning or severe thunderstorms. These interruptions not only disrupt scheduling but raise issues about match integrity especially during the group stage when simultaneous kickoffs matter. The unpredictability of summer weather in the U.S., from heatwaves to storms, is becoming a real concern as FIFA prepares for the 2026 World Cup.

Criticism is growing online, where fans are posting photos of nearly empty stadiums and expressing frustration with FIFA’s planning. Some have labeled the tournament a “PR disaster,” while others are calling attention to avoidable mistakes like early kickoff times and poor crowd control. Though FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the tournament, emphasizing security and fan engagement, others argue more attention must be paid to heat safety, stadium design, and fan access.

Still, the Club World Cup doesn’t match the global pull of the World Cup. Some believe the attendance issues are due to the nature of the tournament itself and not just its location. However, the problems have made it clear that without major adjustments, the same missteps could impact the much larger 2026 event. FIFA is being urged to act quickly rethinking kickoff times, improving venue readiness, and addressing fan accessibility to avoid repeating these issues on the world’s biggest stage.