The match between France and Paraguay at the 1/8 final stage of the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to be played in Philadelphia on July 5, may be played in extreme heat.
According to the information of Idman.Biz, citing the newspaper "L'Équipe", it is forecasted that the temperature in the shade will reach 36 degrees Celsius and the temperature will be much higher with humidity.
According to the publication, there are serious concerns about the safety of not only the players but also the spectators at the "Lincoln Financial Field" stadium, which is an open-air stadium without climate control. FIFA plans to implement cooling protocols, including additional water breaks. The players' union, FIFPRO, and scientists have already called these measures insufficient and are insisting on postponing the games if the temperature rises above 28°C (82°F).
According to the current FIFA rules, the game can be postponed if the humidity temperature reaches 32°C (90°F). However, there is currently no official decision to postpone it.