Player workloads and climate issues
A new report from FIFPRO, the world players' union, highlights links
Introduction
FIFPRO is the global union for professional football players. It has just published its annual player workload monitoring report for men’s professional football. You can find it here.
This post takes a look at key climate-related points in the report1. It shows that ahead of World Cup 2026, there are important issues to be addressed. This includes on extreme weather and its impacts on players’ safety and health, the timing and location of games, and also the updating of heat guidelines.
It also shows that governing bodies, clubs and others need more consideration and collaboration on issues that affect both player workloads and the climate. This includes the overall football calendar, international travel, overseas tours by clubs, impacts of extreme weather on fans, and more.
Please donate here. All donations, big or small are super-welcome. Donations will help keep the newsletter going, open to all for free and informing action on football and climate issues.
About the report
FIFPRO is the representative organisation for 65,000 professional footballers across the world. This annual workload report is one aspect of its wider work on behalf of players. That work includes an advisory role on UEFA’s Executive Committee, expert research and campaigning. This makes FIFPRO reports key contributions to discussions on football’s future direction.
Many of the points made on extreme weather in this report are similar to those already made by academics, campaigners and other organisations (see bottom of page). That said, its importance lies in the organisation making the points and its approach. The report looks at key data of 1,500 top footballers across the 2024-25 season. It also has had over 60 experts contributing to it. Several quotes from world-leading players and managers bring it to life. There are also several real-life stories and a lot of striking statistics.
For the first time this annual analysis from FIFPRO also includes a section on extreme heat. In addition, other sections have important points in relation to the climate. Taking these in turn …
Extreme Heat
Section 6 of the report looks at extreme heat and is split into two main parts. Firstly, an explainer on the issues and policies related to extreme heat. Secondly, an analysis of the extreme weather at the recent Club World Cup in the US. This is also used to inform a look at implications for the men’s World Cup 2026 in the US, Canada and Mexico.
The report says that extreme heat alongside physical demands mean players face unique challenges. It also means the management and mitigation of extreme weather conditions are key. This applies to both matchday operations and the overall management of competitions.
It also recognises that climate change will have growing impacts on the participation and spectatorship of football. This requires competition organisers and player unions to strengthen extreme weather protocols.
Guidelines
FIFPRO’s report considers the existing protocols of governing bodies. In doing so, it recognises that FIFA guidelines [on extreme heat] are the guiding principles for the professional football industry. However, these have not been updated in nearly 20 years. Also “these seem less protective than guidelines in other sports or from countries traditionally exposed to extreme hot conditions.” In the report, FIFPRO also presents its own proposed heat mitigation standards to better protect players. FIFPRO’s findings lead it to say that:
“the existing FIFA standards for the upcoming competitions such as the FIFA Club World Cup 2026 and 2030 (as well as other competitions at national or international level), are a current concern that requires attention as competition policies need to adapt to a warming planet.”
As things stand, there are no known plans for FIFA to update its guidelines. Elsewhere, UEFA said in February 2024 it was “working on having regulations in place to safeguard players and fans”. No further update has since been provided by UEFA. Elsewhere, Conmebol provided medical recommendations specifically for Copa America 2024. Despite this, several concerns were reported.
Overall, this suggests there are important questions for FIFA and other governing bodies to address on their guidelines. These particularly focus on what work is happening to review and update heat guidelines. This is particularly timely for FIFA with the men’s World Cup 2026 fast approaching.
Implications for the locations and timings of matches
To inform its approach, FIFPRO focuses on the 2025 Club World Cup held in the USA. It notes there were “numerous incidents of extreme climate conditions”. It says that “Both players and coaches have voiced concerns”. To highlight these, it includes quotes from several leading players and managers. Relatedly, The Athletic reports that FIFA received 145 reports relating to human rights concerns at this year’s Club World Cup. The second-most of these came from “fans who suffered from extreme heat”. Separately, FIFPRO’s Director of Policy has said that the extreme heat at the tournament is “probably a wake-up call in this regard”.
FIFPRO’s analysis identifies 4 matches that “should ideally have been cancelled or rescheduled to avoid jeopardising player safety” due to heat. It also identifies 17 matches with heat close to its cancellation/rescheduling threshold. In addition, 6 matches had delays of up to two hours due to thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.
Looking forward, the report says 6 of the 16 host cities for World Cup 2026 face conditions classified as ‘extreme risk’ for heat-related illness. This heightens “safety concerns not only for players, but also for fans”. It leads FIFPRO to say that for World Cup 2026:
“the existing schedule and venue selections may need to be reassessed to better safeguard player health, protect fan well-being, and support optimal performance”
FIFPRO also adds that “competition location and timing should be given greater consideration by competition organisers”. Drilling down from this point suggests two areas of focus. Firstly, more consideration should be given in the bidding processes for decisions on who will host tournaments. Secondly, more consideration on detailed location and timing issues is needed after hosting decisions.
Tournament expansion
The report goes on to say that the expanded World Cup 2026 48-team format amplifies the issues. With matches spread over a vast area and a compressed tournament format, extreme weather may have significant knock-on effects on the entire tournament schedule. For instance, a need to postpone a match early in the tournament may have knock-on effects on the timings of further games.
This FIFPRO report comes as proposals are being put forward for a 64-team World Cup in 2030. This would take place across 6 countries and 3 continents and is being actively considered by FIFA. This FIFPRO analysis raises critical questions about these proposals. For a start: what consideration has been given to player safety and climate issues in the proposals?
Elsewhere In The Report
It is not within the scope of FIFPRO’s report to consider the carbon emissions related to football. That said, a number of points that it identifies as major concerns for players’ are also concerns from a climate perspective. Here is a whistle-stop tour of some of them …
Calendar and Travel
A major focus of the report is the increasingly crowded calendar of football matches. Strongly related to this is the increasing international travel required for players. The report lays these issues bare, with a welter of stories and statistics.
FIFPRO provides compelling evidence of the need for urgent reforms to the calendar due to the impacts on players’ health and safety. It says there is a relentless expansion of overlapping competitions. This also leads to escalating international travel, adding to unprecedented demands on players’ health. While not part of this report it also links to an important climate issue for football. More games and more international travel for players (and fans) means more emissions, particularly from flights.
Pre- and Post-Season Tours
FIFPRO notes these tours are becoming more regular and extensive. Unlike most of the football calendar, which is determined by governing bodies, these tours are club-led decisions. FIFPRO says these tours are driven by ever-increasing commercial demands. “Where pre-season was once primarily about fitness, tactical preparation, and team cohesion, it has now become heavily shaped by brand expansion, sponsorship commitments, and revenue generation”. It says there is “a potential conflict between commercial imperatives and sporting priorities.” Finding the right balance “is becoming one of the sport’s most pressing challenges.” This again has links to climate issues. More and longer tours overseas by clubs lead to more travel-related emissions.
Domestic Matches Overseas
The climate concerns with proposals for domestic matches to be played overseas were looked at in a recent newsletter post. This includes more travel emissions, a lack of environmental governance in the decisions, and challenging changes in the climate for these matches. FIFPRO notes further concerns too, saying players will inevitably face increased fatigue. This raises injury risks and could compromise on-pitch performance.
Regional Analysis - Africa
Alongside a global analysis, FIFPRO also provides a region-by-region analysis. In regards to Africa one of the seven key trends it identifies is that a variety of extreme weather events in many regions are placing additional strain on players and “To safeguard player health, it’s essential to consider these unique environmental challenges.”
Collaboration
The report says “there is a growing need for collaboration” to address these heat-related risks. This feels like an essential part of the next steps on these issues2. While FIFPRO (understandably) focuses on players, the report has also touched on impacts on fans. In moving forward with a collaborative approach, it will be essential for football fans to be a key part of that conversation too.
In Summary
This report is an important contribution to raising awareness of the need for further action on extreme weather in football.
It also comes at a timely moment with several key decisions coming up. This includes UEFA considering domestic games being played overseas at its December meeting. Elsewhere, FIFA is considering expanding the World Cup in 2030 to 64 teams, with a FIFA Council meeting coming up imminently which may address it. In addition, FIFA is also finalising planning for the World Cup 2026, including the kick-off times of games (which are still to be confirmed).
The report also highlights that climate issues are inter-connected with other big issues for football. This includes the impacts of extreme weather on players and fans, a growing calendar of games, more international travel, and a need for updated guidance to reflect a changing climate and latest understandings. These are important issues for player safety and health, and important issues for the climate. In identifying these issues, the report provides important ground for considering future communication and collaborations on these issues.
An incomplete list of writing on extreme weather and football (by release date)
Pitches in Peril: How Climate Change Is Threatening Football — From World Cup Stadiums to Grassroots Pitches. Football for Future and Common Goal (2025)
‘Fifa should consider playing World Cup final at 9am’. BBC (2025)
Dangerous heat is a real threat for the 2026 World Cup. Are teams ready? The Guardian (2025)
Rethink kick-off times during 2026 FIFA World Cup to protect footballers from extreme heat. Queen’s University Belfast (2025)
Extreme heat risk and the potential implications for the scheduling of football matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. International Journal of Biometeorology. (2025)
Warming Up: How Climate Change is Changing Sport. Madeleine Orr (2024)
Game Changer II: The impact of climate change on sports in the UK. BASIS (British Association for Sustainable Sport). (2023)
See also this page of further resources
By FIFPRO
Fran James (he/him)
Football and Climate Change Newsletter
info@footballandclimate.org
LinkedIn | Bluesky | X
While the BBC, The Athletic and Reteurs have provided excellent coverage of the FIFPRO report, they have perhaps given less attention to the extreme heat aspects of the report than can be given here.
The FIFA Council meeting on 2nd October has an agenda item: “Update on professional football stakeholder relations”. So things may have moved on by the time you read this.