FIFPRO mulls 20-minute halftimes, more cooling breaks amid extreme heat
NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES, JUN 30 – FIFPRO urges extending halftime to 20 minutes and more frequent cooling breaks to reduce heat risks in nine 2026 World Cup host cities, based on wet bulb globe temperature data.
- FIFPRO has raised concerns about extreme heat exposure affecting players during FIFA's inaugural 32-team Club World Cup held recently in the United States.
- This concern stems from observations that several matches in high-temperature venues exceeded FIFPRO's defined wet bulb globe temperature safety threshold of 28 degrees Celsius, while FIFA's threshold remains at 32 degrees Celsius.
- In response, FIFPRO has recommended extending halftime breaks to 20 minutes and increasing the frequency of cooling breaks to better manage players' heat stress, with pilot programs underway including one in Portugal.
- FIFPRO General Secretary Alex Phillips acknowledged that the union does not have the authority to veto match scheduling decisions but commended FIFA for adjusting heat-related match protocols during the Club World Cup after taking FIFPRO's recommendations into account, such as implementing earlier cooling breaks and enhancing hydration measures.
- These developments highlight ongoing efforts to balance commercial interests and player safety amid projected dangerous heat in nine of 16 US host cities for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, fueling calls for mandatory cooling and schedule changes.
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The FIFPro football union said that the suffocating heat that players resist in the Club World Cup is a “call for attention” for FIFA, and called for a prolonged break from the mid-time at the 2026 World Cup of Selections, which will also be held in Mexico and Canada.
The world of sport, including the biggest events, tries to adapt to climate change.
The international football players' union Fifpro is proposing extending the break between half-time matches to 20 minutes and introducing more frequent breaks to cool players down in extreme temperatures, the Croatian news agency Hina reported.
Los Angeles Times
Independent EspañolThe extreme heat that players are suffering at the Club World Cup in the United States will probably be an even greater problem in the next two men’s World Cups, his global FIFPRO union warned Monday.
Cooling Breaks and Longer Halftimes: FIFPRO's Response to Extreme Heat Risks in Soccer | Sports-Games
The players' union FIFPRO is investigating changes to game regulations, such as extending halftimes and increasing cooling breaks, to combat extreme heat conditions expected in nine host cities of the 2026 World Cup. These measures aim to protect player health, as many locations are projected to exceed safe heat thresholds.
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