Dangerously High Temperatures Threaten the 2026 World Cup

By Sam Stebbins  •  May 29, 2026
a golden soccer trophy sitting on top of a field
Photo by My Profit Tutor on Unsplash

Next month, the United States – along with Canada and Mexico – will play host to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. When team USA takes on Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12th, it will mark the first time a World Cup game has been played on American soil in over 30 years. Venues in other U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Miami, and Philadelphia, will also host international matchups through the end of June and into July – a time of year when extreme heat, the leading cause of weather-related deaths, is a common occurrence. 

So far, 2026 ranks as the hottest year on record in the continental United States. Between January and April, the average temperature across the Lower 48 was 44.8°F, nearly 6°F higher than the 20th century average over the same four month period. Whether or not this trend will continue through the summer months remains to be seen. But even if temperatures moderate, summer days in and around World Cup host cities have climbed dangerously high in past years. In 1994, the last time the World Cup was played in the United States, temperatures rose above 100°F in Orlando, Florida during a match between Ireland and Mexico. That game now ranks as the hottest in the tournament’s history. 

Using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Climate Crisis 247 identified the highest recorded temperatures in the American cities hosting World Cup games. We ranked all 11 tournament venues on the highest known temperature in and around the stadium between June 11 and July 19 – the first and last days of this year’s World Cup games. Supplemental data on local, 30-year average 90th percentile summer temperatures, number of days at or above that threshold, and climate change’s contribution to summer heat are as reported by Climate Central, a non-profit research and advocacy group. 

The 2026 World Cup will not be the first time in the tournament’s history that heat has been a concern. The last World Cup tournament was held in 2022 in Qatar, a country where temperatures in June and July regularly exceed 100°F. The possibility of such extreme temperatures prompted officials to reschedule the games for the months of November and December. Notably, these temperatures are also a possibility in each U.S. host city this summer, only a few of which are home to enclosed, climate-controlled venues. 

people playing soccer on stadium during daytime
Photo by Nathan Macoul on Unsplash

11. Gillette Stadium – Boston, Massachusetts

  • Highest temperature on record in Boston area; June 11-July 19: 103°F (June 25, 2025)
  • 90th percentile avg. daily June-July temperature, 1991-2020: 79.7°F
  • Total number of extremely hot June-July days, 1970-2025: 325 (41.8% attributed to human-caused climate change)
  • Stadium type: Open-air

10. MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Highest temperature on record in East Rutherford area; June 11-July 19: 103°F (July 19, 2012)
  • 90th percentile avg. daily June-July temperature, 1991-2020: 82.1°F
  • Total number of extremely hot June-July days, 1970-2025: 296 (55.7% attributed to human-caused climate change)
  • Stadium type: Open-air

9. Hard Rock Stadium – Miami, Florida

  • Highest temperature on record in Miami area; June 11-July 19: 103°F (June 14, 2012)
  • 90th percentile avg. daily June-July temperature, 1991-2020: 84.1°F
  • Total number of extremely hot June-July days, 1970-2025: 265 (95.5% attributed to human-caused climate change)
  • Stadium type: Open-air (partial shade)

8. Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Highest temperature on record in Philadelphia area; June 11-July 19: 104°F (July 6, 2010)
  • 90th percentile avg. daily June-July temperature, 1991-2020: 83.4°F
  • Total number of extremely hot June-July days, 1970-2025: 281 (56.2% attributed to human-caused climate change)
  • Stadium type: Open-air

7. Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia

  • Highest temperature on record in Atlanta area; June 11-July 19: 106°F (June 30, 2012)
  • 90th percentile avg. daily June-July temperature, 1991-2020: 83.7°F
  • Total number of extremely hot June-July days, 1970-2025: 312 (61.5% attributed to human-caused climate change)
  • Stadium type: Fully climate-controlled

6. NRG Stadium – Houston, Texas

  • Highest temperature on record in Houston area; June 11-July 19: 107°F (July 10, 2022)
  • 90th percentile avg. daily June-July temperature, 1991-2020: 86.7°F
  • Total number of extremely hot June-July days, 1970-2025: 286 (62.6% attributed to human-caused climate change)
  • Stadium type: Fully climate-controlled

5. Lumen Field – Seattle, Washington

  • Highest temperature on record in Seattle area; June 11-July 19: 109°F (June 28, 2021)
  • 90th percentile avg. daily June-July temperature, 1991-2020: 70.9°F
  • Total number of extremely hot June-July days, 1970-2025: 338 (36.4% attributed to human-caused climate change)
  • Stadium type: Open-air (partial roofing)

4. Levi’s Stadium – San Francisco Bay Area, California

  • Highest temperature on record in San Francisco Bay Area; June 11-July 19: 111°F (June 14, 2000)
  • 90th percentile avg. daily June-July temperature, 1991-2020: 75.6°F
  • Total number of extremely hot June-July days, 1970-2025: 372 (11.8% attributed to human-caused climate change)
  • Stadium type: Open-air

3. Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas City, Missouri

  • Highest temperature on record in Kansas City area; June 11-July 19: 111°F (July 13, 1954)
  • 90th percentile avg. daily June-July temperature, 1991-2020: 84.8°F
  • Total number of extremely hot June-July days, 1970-2025: 357 (22.4% attributed to human-caused climate change)
  • Stadium type: Open-air

2. AT&T Stadium – Dallas, Texas

  • Highest temperature on record in Dallas area; June 11-July 19: 112°F (June 27, 1980)
  • 90th percentile avg. daily June-July temperature, 1991-2020: 89.2°F
  • Total number of extremely hot June-July days, 1970-2025: 332 (51.8% attributed to human-caused climate change)
  • Stadium type: Fully climate-controlled

1. SoFi Stadium – Los Angeles, California

  • Highest temperature on record in Los Angeles area; June 11-July 19: 119°F (July 6, 2018)
  • 90th percentile avg. daily June-July temperature, 1991-2020: 78.8°F
  • Total number of extremely hot June-July days, 1970-2025: 411 (28.7% attributed to human-caused climate change)
  • Stadium type: Passive cooling


Similar Posts