PARIS, France (AFP) — Climate experts challenged FIFA on Thursday after a warning that one in four 2026 World Cup games could take place in very hot conditions, as global warming has increased the risk of extreme heat in North America since the United States (US) hosted the 1994 tournament.

Concerns about heat already prompted FIFA to mandate a cooling break during each half of the World Cup matches that will take place between June 11 and July 19 in 16 stadiums across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

“Players and fans face a much higher risk of gruelling heat and humidity at the 2026 World Cup compared to the 1994 tournament on the same continent,” World Weather Attribution (WWA), a network of climate scientists, said in a statement.