Extreme heat and altitude pose major challenge for 2026 World Cup players

Extreme heat, high humidity and altitude are set to pose unprecedented challenges at this year's FIFA World Cup, spanning a record 16 stadiums across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Last year's Club World Cup in the US saw players sidelined with heat-related illness, prompting FIFA to introduce three-minute cooling breaks in each half. Only four of the 16 venues have climate-control technology, and FIFPRO warns more than half are likely to exceed its recommended thresholds for delaying or postponing matches. Mexico City's Azteca Stadium sits more than 2,000 metres above sea level, where reduced oxygen levels can cause fatigue and impaired sprint capacity.

Al Jazeera's Andy Richardson reports from Doha, Qatar.

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