FIFA is expected to schedule World Cup matches featuring prominent European teams to start after midnight UK time next year to address heat-related issues that impacted the recent Club World Cup.
Initially, it was thought that World Cup kick-off times would align with those of the Club World Cup, where the earliest matches began at 17:00 BST, followed by 20:00, 23:00, and 02:00.
While the 17:00 and 20:00 times would be convenient for European broadcasters, the former would coincide with midday on the East Coast of the United States, and the latter would fall at midday on the West Coast.
Paris St-Germain’s manager Luis Enrique expressed concerns about his team playing in nearly 40-degree heat during their Club World Cup match against Atletico Madrid in Los Angeles, which kicked off at 12:00 local time.
Read also:
- South Africa suffers a 3-point deduction after FIFA’s hammer
- Trump vows to shield Israel from FIFA sanctions as World Cup controversy escalates
- FIFA announces neutral venues for next month’s World Cup qualifiers
Many coaches and players struggled with the heat and humidity, with Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez reporting dizziness during the game.
When asked about the key lessons learned from the Club World Cup during his speech at the Leaders Conference in Twickenham, Victor Montagliani, president of the North and Central American Confederation (Concacaf), emphasized the importance of “kick-off times.”
With 48 teams participating in the World Cup, there will be 11 consecutive days in the group stage featuring four matches each day, with 12:00 kick-offs expected to be common.
Although five of the 16 stadiums in the United States, Canada, and Mexico have roofs or retractable roofs that can provide shade, it is not feasible to schedule all early matches in these venues.
When asked to elaborate on his comments, Montagliani, who is also a FIFA vice-president, stated, “Kick-off times are always a concern in our region due to the hot summers in Canada and the US.”
“We are in daily discussions with European and global media about the best options and which stadiums can host games at 3 PM. This is all currently being considered.”
“Once the actual schedule is released after the draw, we will strive to take these factors into account. Will every game have an ideal kick-off time from a broadcasting perspective? I can’t say for sure.”
Montagliani refrained from commenting on US President Donald Trump’s recent suggestion to relocate some matches from cities he considers “unsafe.”
However, he clarified that only FIFA has the authority to change match locations.
“If I had to respond every time a politician makes a statement, whether it’s a president, senator, or congressman, even in my own country or in Mexico, then I wouldn’t be fulfilling my responsibilities,” he remarked.
“The reality is we are focused on the 16 venues.”
“It’s FIFA’s tournament. They make the decisions. It’s their jurisdiction. With all due respect to current world leaders, football is bigger than them.”
