How do cooling breaks work in hot weather at WC2026?

Cooling breaks were introduced after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where several matches saw players visibly cramping in 35°C+ heat. The standard threshold is a 'wet-bulb globe temperature' (WBGT) above 32°C — a measure that combines air temperature, humidity, wind and solar radiation, more accurate than thermometer readings.

How it works: the FIFA medical officer measures WBGT at the pitch before kickoff and 15 minutes into each half. If it crosses 32°C, the referee builds in a 3-minute pause at the next natural stoppage past the 30th minute of each half. Players get water on the sidelines; team doctors check on anyone struggling. The clock keeps running — added time absorbs the pause.

Relevant venues at WC2026: Dallas (AT&T Stadium — air-conditioned, low risk), Houston (NRG Stadium — air-conditioned), Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium — air-conditioned), Miami (Hard Rock Stadium — open-air, high humidity), Kansas City (Arrowhead — open-air, hot summer days). Open-air venues in the Sun Belt are the ones to watch. The June 11 – July 19 window covers the hottest stretch of the year in the US South.

Heat protocol matters for predictions: high-WBGT matches see fewer goals on average (defences press less aggressively when cramping is a risk) and more substitutions used early. Top scorers and over-2.5 goal markets shift accordingly.