This isn’t an isolated incident. Last year, Hurricane Helene caused devastation across North Carolina. This summer, flash floods in Texas claimed at least 135 lives. At the tournament itself, multiple matches were suspended because of storms, while the average matchday temperature sat above 30°C — with some games played in near 40°C heat.
The consequences are clear: extreme weather, once considered rare, is becoming a fixture of the sporting calendar. For footballers, this isn’t just about performance — it is about health, safety, and the very feasibility of staging tournaments in their current formats.
The Bigger Question: Where Should Tournaments Be Held?
FIFA’s decision to expand its Club World Cup is commercially driven, but the climate realities of hosting summer competitions in regions prone to extreme weather cannot be ignored. If thunderstorms, heatwaves, and floods are disrupting matches at this frequency, the integrity of the competition itself is at risk.
The question is no longer just about player welfare — it is about the sustainability of football’s global calendar in the face of climate breakdown.
Sport and Climate Justice
Footballers, coaches, and fans are increasingly vocal in demanding change. Climate justice within sport extends beyond symbolic gestures; it requires structural adjustments:
- Tournament scheduling that accounts for climate risks.
- Venue selection prioritising environmental stability and player safety.
- Partnerships with sustainability-focused energy and infrastructure providers.
- Climate-conscious governance from FIFA and other federations, moving beyond commercial expansion at all costs.
Football is a global industry with immense cultural influence. If it continues to stage tournaments in unsafe environments, it not only endangers athletes but also undermines its credibility in addressing the biggest challenge of our time.
365247 Insight:
The disruptions seen in North Carolina underscore a truth sport can no longer ignore — climate change is no longer a backdrop; it is a protagonist. For football to remain viable, governing bodies must integrate climate justice into their decision-making with the same seriousness as broadcast rights, sponsorship, and competition formats.
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