The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be a scorcher, both literally and metaphorically. As the tournament kicks off, concerns are mounting about the safety of workers who will be toiling in the heat. With temperatures forecast to soar, labor advocates and scholars are warning that workers could face serious heat-related risks.
The tournament will be held across 16 host cities, including 11 in the US, with southern cities like Miami, Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta predicted to see temperatures topping 85F or even 90F. This comes as much of the US faces above-normal temperatures, and since the last World Cup in North America, the planet has warmed by more than 1F. Heat is the deadliest form of extreme weather, and workers at previous World Cups have suffered and even died in sweltering conditions.
A recent study published this week suggests that thousands of World Cup workers will labor in conditions exceeding recommended heat-exposure limits, putting them at risk of heat exhaustion and other illnesses. Researchers assessed historical weather conditions and wet-bulb globe temperatures, a measure of heat stress accounting for temperature, humidity, and wind speed. Southern host cities pose the greatest risks, but even cooler locations should prepare for unusually high temperatures.
Risk also depends on working conditions. Stadiums without air conditioning, including venues in Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and Kansas City, may be more dangerous. Those carrying concessions or other heavy loads, performing physical labor, or wearing extra fabric like mascot costumes may be more vulnerable to heat illness and injury. Staff who spend long periods in direct sunlight, including security personnel, may also face elevated risks.
Measures such as mandated breaks and access to water and shade can help protect workers from scorching temperatures. Jordan Barab, former deputy assistant secretary of labor at the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), emphasizes that we've known for decades how to protect workers against heat-related illness and death. It's not that hard or expensive, but many employers still neglect these precautions.
FIFA does not directly control employment conditions, but it can promote safety through host-city agreements, venue-operating requirements, and contractor standards. However, political conditions may hinder efforts to protect World Cup workers. Florida and Texas, both hosting matches, have enacted state laws that explicitly ban local municipalities from mandating heat protections for workers.
Only seven states have enforceable occupational heat safety standards, and just two of them, California and Washington, are hosting World Cup matches. Without federal regulations, workers in states without specific protections are at the whim of their employers. OSHA has renewed a program to emphasize worker heat protections, but under Trump, the agency weakened its enforcement measures.
Labor rights groups plan to monitor working conditions throughout the World Cup, as they cannot assume things will be fine in such extreme weather. The challenge lies in ensuring that FIFA's efforts are effective and that temporary contract workers, who may not be acclimated to local heat, are adequately protected. The coalition pushing for heat-safety training and cooling hubs in Miami highlights the need for continuous vigilance and action to safeguard workers' well-being during this scorching tournament.
