England World Cup games could start at 1am in UK due to heat concerns

Fifa is wrestling with World Cup kick-off times for next year that could mean England play games that start after midnight UK time because of concerns over heat.

Afternoon matches at this summer’s Club World Cup in the USA were badly affected by the temperatures and humidity — but those are best times for primetime TV audiences in Europe.

Five of the 16 stadiums being used by the host nations, USA, Mexico and Canada, have roofs but many of the others, such as the venues in Miami and New York/New Jersey, where the final will be held, have no cover at all for fans or players.

Players such as Jude Bellingham struggled to cope with the sweltering heat at the Club World Cup this summer

ROBBIE JAY BARRATT/AMA/GETTY