The World Cup 2026 has now reached the knock-out stages, in which 32 countries are still playing for a place in the next round.
Besides the players and the teams, there has been one undisputed protagonist: the heat.
Even before the tournament kicked off in Canada, Mexico and the United States, health experts and professional players warned that some of the matches were going to be played under dangerous weather conditions.
To mitigate the consequences, FIFA has introduced a mandatory hydration break across all games, regardless of temperature
Now, as the tournament reaches a new round, temperatures have become as severe as predicted, with the United States expecting a heatwave from 1 July which is set to affect much of the country.
