In addition to heat mitigation, players are demanding that FIFA take proactive steps to address the climate crisis.
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images Did you know that Truthout is a nonprofit and independently funded by readers like you? If you value what we do, please support our work with Current and former World Cup soccer players have penned an open letter to FIFA, urging the sports governing body to address the heat stress that is expected to be felt by competitors during this summer’s games in North America and to take action to tackle the global climate crisis.
— Canada, the United States, and Mexico — across 39 days this year. The tournament will feature 100 matches involving 48 teams.
“When it comes to cooling breaks, it is clear that the 3-minute breaks that FIFA has adopted for all matches are too short to have a meaningful impact on rehydration and body cooling,”Citing those reports and their own personal experiences with heat exhaustion, dozens of current and former soccer players representing over 20 countries around the world called on FIFA to take the heat problem, created by the global climate crisis, more seriously. “We find it important that all players are protected from heat impacts, from the grassroots to the elite level,”.
“As the elite playing the World Cup sets the example for players around the world, it’s essential that the best available medical expertise is put to practice. ” “We share the concerns outlined by the medical professionals and support their demand that FIFA updates its heat-stress framework before the World Cup,” they added.doubling the cooling breaks from three minutes to six, and equipping locker rooms with more resources to provide “aggressive pre-game and half-time cooling,” among other actions.
In addition to updating their standards for protecting players and other personnel on the field, the players are also urging FIFA to take greater action to address the global climate crisis.
“It would be a missed opportunity if a sport so impacted by the climate crisis doesn’t take its responsibility in addressing it,”, calling for the organization to drop fossil fuel-related sponsors, and to “take serious climate action to reduce its climate impact” — including creating a “smaller, more regional football calendar. ” Indeed, this year’s event will likely increase FIFA’s carbon footprint in major ways.
The number of teams involved has increased by 12 member countries compared to four years ago, meaning 12 additional teams — and fans of those teams — will be traveling across the world to take part. Choosing three separate countries to host the games will also increase the organization’s carbon footprint.when it comes to the climate crisis.
In 2022, for example, FIFA President Gianni Infantino requested that fans share videos on how they would “raise FIFA’s green card for the planet” , shifting the responsibility of addressing the climate crisis away from the sporting organization. FIFA suggested that this action somehow created a “carbon neutral” World Cup for that year. Thank you for reading Truthout today. We have a brief message before you go.
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