Dear Editor,

When most football fans think about the FIFA World Cup, they think about tactics, talent, and teamwork. Yet one of the biggest opponents at this year’s tournament may not be another team, it may simply be the heat.

The issue has become so significant that FIFA introduced mandatory three-minute hydration breaks in each half of every World Cup match. The decision followed widespread concerns after players, coaches, and medical experts raised alarm about extreme temperatures experienced during competitions in North America.

Some coaches have welcomed the breaks. Belgium’s coach, Rudi Garcia, and France’s Didier Deschamps have both supported the measure. However, not everyone agrees. The Dutch captain, Virgil van Dijk, and Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans questioned the need for the breaks in certain conditions and argued that they can disrupt the flow of the game.

The glaring reality is that heat is no longer just a physical issue; it is a psychological one. Research consistently shows that rising body temperatures can impair concentration, decision-making, reaction time, and emotional control. In football, these mental skills are often the difference between victory and defeat. A defender who loses concentration for a few seconds, a goalkeeper who reacts a fraction too late, or a striker who chooses the wrong option under pressure can change the outcome of a match.

The climate experts have warned that approximately one-quarter of World Cup matches could be played under conditions that exceed recommended heat-safety thresholds. Players are already feeling the effects. England midfielder Declan Rice attracted attention when pre-tournament photographs showed him heavily sunburned after training in the intense North American heat. While Rice laughed it off publicly, the incident highlighted the adjustment many European players are having to make.

Other teams have taken more deliberate measures. Reports from training camps indicate that some squads have altered training schedules, increased hydration protocols, and introduced additional cooling strategies to help players cope with the conditions. Norway’s players were even reported to be using cooling collars during preparations.

The challenge extends beyond players. During the first day of the World Cup fan festival in Houston, 22 people required treatment for heat-related illnesses and several were hospitalised. The incident demonstrated that extreme heat is affecting everyone connected to the tournament and not just those on the field.

From a sport psychology perspective, this World Cup offers an important lesson. Mental toughness is not simply about handling pressure from opponents, crowds, or expectations. It is also about maintaining focus, emotional control, and sound decision-making when the environment itself becomes a stressor, a broad external factor, which impacts concentration, according to Nideffer’s Attentional Focus Model.

The teams that advance deepest into the 2026 FIFA World Cup may not necessarily be the most talented. They may be the teams that adapt best, physically and mentally, to conditions they cannot control. The heat may never appear on the scoreboard, but it could become one of the tournament’s most influential opponents.

In the end, lifting the trophy may depend not only on who plays the best football, but also on who manages the hidden battle unfolding beyond the ball.

Dr Olivia Rose

Applied sports psychologist