2026 World Cup video games to make use of coated stadiums after warmth issues – NBC Los Angeles

After warmth issues dominated the U.S.-based Membership World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino mentioned coated stadiums can be used on the 2026 World Cup.

“Each criticism we obtain is a supply for us to check and analyse what can do higher,” Infantino mentioned to reporters at a media convention in New York. “…Cooling breaks are essential and we’ll see what we are able to do, however we now have stadiums with roofs and we will certainly use these stadiums in the course of the day subsequent 12 months.”

The choice got here forward of the Paris Saint-Germain vs. Chelsea Membership World Cup closing at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the place the temperature at kickoff is anticipated to be 83 levels Fahrenheit. However humidity might make it really feel like 91 levels Fahrenheit on the 3 p.m. ET begin time.

Blues midfielder Enzo Fernandez introduced consideration as soon as once more on the warmth throughout a media session at apply.

A number of the world’s finest membership soccer groups will compete in a World Cup-style match in the US.

“Truthfully, the warmth is unbelievable,” Fernandez mentioned Friday. “The opposite day I received a bit of dizzy throughout a play. I needed to lie down on the bottom as a result of I used to be actually dizzy. Taking part in on this temperature in very harmful.”

FIFA’s gamers’ union, FIFPRO, gave the soccer physique pre-tournament recommendation on suspending Membership World Cup kickoff instances, however it was not taken up.

FIFPRO additionally mentioned further warmth mitigation measures might embrace 20-minute halftime breaks as an alternative of 15 to assist decrease gamers’ core temperatures, and cooling breaks in play each quarter-hour. Breaks have solely been taken within the thirtieth minute of every half.

The Membership World Cup additionally noticed a number of thunderstorm delays with the video games held on the East Coast, with the Chelsea-Benfica round-of-16 recreation postponed by two hours.

“I feel it is a joke to be sincere, it isn’t soccer,” Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca had mentioned. “It is not for us. You can’t be inside [for so long].

“It is utterly one thing new however I wrestle to grasp. I can perceive that for safety causes, it’s important to droop the sport. However in case you droop seven, eight video games, that implies that in all probability isn’t the suitable place to do that competitors.”

Particular plans on if new coated stadiums can be used or if any present non-covered stadium can be changed usually are not but identified.

The Related Press contributed to this report.