The Heat Is On: What Every World Cup Fan Needs To Know Before Kickoff

InnovationHealthcareThe Heat Is On: What Every World Cup Fan Needs To Know Before KickoffByJohn Samuels,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. John Samuels is the Founder/CEO of Wellworth healthcare advisory firm.Follow AuthorJun 12, 2026, 09:32am EDTThe fiercest opponent at the 2026 World Cup may not be wearing a jersey. It may be the heat.Corbis via Getty ImagesThe 2026 FIFA World Cup is shaping up to be the hottest in history. Scientists have calculated that roughly one in four matches will be played under heat conditions that pose a genuine threat to players and spectators — and in cities like Dallas, Houston, and Miami, where summer afternoons routinely exceed 90°F even accounting for humidity and wind, those risks are nearly certain.Your Heat Risk Profile: Do You Know It?Not everyone is equally vulnerable. Older adults tend to have a diminished sense of thirst and a reduced ability to sweat — both essential to staying cool. Cardiovascular disease makes it harder to redirect blood flow to the skin, the body's primary cooling mechanism. Diabetes can impair blood flow and sweat production. Kidney disease compounds dehydration risk.Scientists advising FIFA have specifically flagged that fans, unlike trained athletes, may be older, very young, or managing cardiovascular, kidney, or metabolic disease — populations whose responses to heat stress are fundamentally different from those of a professional footballer.The Medication Factor Most Fans Don't ConsiderOne of the most overlooked heat risks is something tens of millions of Americans take every day. A wide range of common drugs can quietly compromise your body's ability to cope with heat — and most people are never warned.Diuretics ("water pills"), prescribed for high blood pressure and heart conditions, accelerate fluid loss before you even feel thirsty. Beta-blockers slow the heart rate and impair sweating. Antihistamines (including Benadryl) in...