HYDRATION BREAKS FEATURE AT TOURNAMENT

The conditions have the potential to reignite the issue of player safety and welfare that came up a year ago during the Club World Cup, which was held in the US, when FIFPRO said the scorching weather should serve as a “wake-up call”.

FIFA instituted mandatory three-minute hydration breaks in each half in every match for the World Cup this year, a measure that supporters say benefits player welfare but critics argue disrupts the flow of play at the tournament.

World Soccer’s governing body did not immediately respond to a request for comment on any additional measures that could be taken for player or fan safety during the expected period of intense heat. 

Toronto, which will host a Round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia on Thursday, put its “Heat Relief Strategy” into effect after Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a heat warning that runs from Tuesday through Friday.

Three of the stadiums hosting matches under the umbrella of the heat dome – Atlanta, Dallas and Houston – have retractable roofs and air conditioning, offering significant relief.

But even the stroll to the modern home of the Dallas Cowboys can feel more like a firewalk, with the concrete-and-asphalt-laden Texas city built for cars and primed to absorb heat.

Alina Mitina, an emergency department physician for Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, said fans should seek out shade as much as possible and watch out for telltale signs of heat-related illness, including dizziness. 

“Shady areas will really save lives in these types of situations,” said Mitina. “So as long as there’s lots of shade and areas to buy water, I think they’re going to be in really good shape.”