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The FIFA World Cup kicked off last week, and players and fans alike are raising red-hot flags — literally.
For the next month, soccer-loving New Jerseyans and fans from around the globe will head to MetLife Stadium for eight matches, including the final.
Unfortunately, the threat of dangerous heat looms as teams compete for the Cup — especially the final, scheduled for 3 p.m. July 19, when conditions are typically among the hottest of the year and peak daytime heat.
Just four years ago, in 2022, the World Cup in Qatar was moved from summer to winter to mitigate extreme heat. Now the tournament returns to summer, prompting an overdue reckoning over heat safety protocols.
This World Cup presents a critical opportunity — and responsibility — to set a new standard for sports safety amid worsening extreme heat driven by climate pollution from burning fossil fuels.
One of those dangers is asthma. More than 646,000 New Jersey residents suffer from the condition, and players, coaches and fans can feel how extreme heat worsens air quality risks. In such a demanding endurance sport, asthmatic players are often on the sidelines, gasping for air — an experience I know all too well.
As a former Division I player and current coach who has asthma, I have watched extreme heat intensify over time and know it can degrade not only the quality of play but also the health of athletes at all levels.
The players’ union, FIFPRO, has long warned about the effects of extreme heat on player safety. Poor air quality, heat cramps and heat exhaustion directly affect performance. More subtly, heat waves are linked to higher rates of hospitalization for cardiovascular, kidney, respiratory and mental health conditions. And as extreme heat events become more frequent due to climate change, the risk of heat-related illness grows.
Fortunately, athlete advocacy is strong and increasingly tied to the fight for a safe, playable climate. FIFPRO has identified East Rutherford among six host cities at “extremely high risk” for heat stress injury and recommended measures such as adjusted kickoff times, cooling breaks every 15 minutes, longer halftimes to reduce internal body temperatures, and shaded benches for substitutes.
FIFA has not adopted all of these recommendations but has implemented hydration breaks, climate-controlled benches, medical teams, adjusted scheduling and public safety messaging encouraging hydration for fans and workers. These protections are an important step forward — but more is needed.
Players are on the front lines of this issue, bearing the physical toll of extreme heat through life-threatening illness, increased injury risk and longer recovery times.
The stakes are even higher for young athletes. More than 110,000 children in New Jersey play soccer, and they are especially vulnerable. Children’s bodies are less efficient at cooling themselves, making them more susceptible to severe heat-related health impacts.
This is also a long-term concern for the sport. Ignoring safety risks could shrink the pipeline of future players and fans. Each year, more than 9,000 U.S. high school athletes are treated for exertional heat illness, and about three die — making it a leading cause of death in school sports.
The good news is that many of the World Cup’s heat protocols are practical and adaptable across all levels of play. To be truly effective, they must become standard across leagues, from youth to professional.
For youth coaches like myself — and the more than 10,000 across New Jersey — that means ensuring regular water breaks, proper hydration, avoiding peak heat hours, rotating players frequently and teaching athletes to recognize signs of heat illness before it is too late. Parents also play a critical role in holding leagues and coaches accountable for these protections.
The World Cup brings people together on a global stage. It should also be a catalyst for stronger heat protections and climate adaptation in sports. The future of soccer — and all athletic competition — depends on it.
Sam Schmitz is a project manager for Moms Clean Air Force and an Aspen Institute Future Climate Leader. She is also a youth soccer coach and played Division I Soccer at Harvard University.
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