Soccer players competing in the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup may be at risk of severe heat stress and dehydration, according to a study published in Scientific Reports. Ten of the 16 sites set to host the upcoming World Cup in North America could put competitors at risk of extreme heat stress,

The tournament will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, during peak summer temperatures in North America.

FIFA released its bid evaluation report and said the 2034 bid received an overall average score of 4.2 out of 5 even though eight stadiums are still to be built. All venues -- including the planned 92,

Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 World Cup was considered “medium risk” for human rights by Fifa in its evaluation report, which said implementing reforms could take “significant time and effort”.

Saudi Arabia's 2034 World Cup bid received a higher technical score from FIFA than the 2026 joint bid by the United States, Canada and Mexico even though the Middle East nation has yet to construct several stadiums proposed for the tournament.