Tempers rise and temperatures soar at the Club World Cup
Tempers rise and temperatures soar at the Club World Cup
Chelsea turned up the heat as they dismantled Paris Saint-Germain in a commanding 3–0 victory on Sunday night.
The celebrations came at the end of a tournament clouded by controversy and tension, with the extreme weather frequently dominating the conversation both on and off the pitch.
A number of participating clubs’ managers and players spoke out about the tough conditions throughout the course of the tournament:
Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca said it was “impossible to train” during the group stages of the tournament due to the high temperatures.
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández described the conditions as “very dangerous,” recalling he had to “lie down” on the pitch after fainting during a match.
PSG’s Luis Enrique called the heat “suffocating,” adding that it was “impossible to play high-level football like this.”
Atlético Madrid’s Marcos Llorente said the “terrible heat” caused physical pain and made playing “impossible.”
Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola warned his team they had to be “ready to suffer” ahead of their game against Juventus.
Dortmund’s Niko Kovac explained how substitutes stayed in air-conditioned locker rooms during the first half, as pitch temperatures soared close to 45°C.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois suggested evening kickoffs would improve conditions, saying, “If the games were played in the evening, it would be better for the spectacle.”
The overall picture is a tournament overshadowed by environmental strain, one reinforced by frequent thunderstorms that caused significant disruption in multiple matches. Most notably, Chelsea’s round of 16 tie against Benfica was suspended in the 86th minute, with Chelsea securing the win in extra time after a delay of over two hours.
These incidents often led to a significantly hindered spectator experience, which has raised further questions about the upcoming 2026 World Cup, also set to be hosted in the US. Experts have suggested that the final may need to kick off as early as 9am local time to avoid the midday heat, a decision with major implications for global broadcasting and matchday logistics.
As the world edges ever closer to exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, this year’s Club World Cup has offered yet another reminder of the threat climate change poses to football. The tournament serves as a stark warning that without adequate planning and adaptation, heat and extreme weather will increasingly disrupt the game, physically, logistically, and economically.
With the 2026 World Cup looming, it remains to be seen whether governing bodies will implement extra measures following the backlash of this tournament, or whether the beautiful game will continue to be played at the mercy of a changing climate.