‘Time for FIFA to think shifting WC to spring/autumn’

When the 2022 FIFA World Cup was shifted to November-December because of the merciless heat of the desert, there was a lot of hue and cry. Stadiums in Qatar had air-conditioning systems installed, and matches, despite the heat, went on. Argentina were crowned champions, and it is time to shift our attention towards North America—US, Canada, and Mexico—where the next World Cup is set to be held in 2026.

- Indraneel Das

With just over two and a half years remaining, climate scientists and physical education experts from Poland have come out with a paper that laid emphasis on heat stress on footballers during the hot season. The paper, published in Scientific Reports, revealed the perils of playing in such adverse conditions.

Marek Konefal, one of the co-authors of the paper and a research and teaching professor at the University of Physical Education in Wroclaw, said that perhaps it is time for the international football association (FIFA) to think about shifting the calendar to spring/autumn. And if air-conditioned stadiums were built in Qatar, that could well be necessary in the future.