Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández has urged FIFA to “change the schedule” at the 2026 World Cup to avoid putting players at risk in the tournament next year.
Fernandez alongside his Chelsea teammates have been feeling the heat in the United States at the newly revamped Club World Cup. Extreme heat during the Club World Cup in the United States has led to several high-profile players and coaches voicing their concerns over the conditions.
Global players’ union FIFPRO has shown data indicating that three games should have been delayed or postponed due to the heat exceeding their threshold of 28 degrees Celsius on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature gauge (WBGT).
Chelsea’s semifinal win against Fluminense in New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Tuesday saw temperatures of 96 degrees Fahrenheit when the game kicked off at 3 p.m. ET.
With the Premier League side now set to face PSG in the final, Argentina midfielder Enzo said he has struggled to cope with the conditions.
Enzo Maresca head coach of Chelsea gives instructions during the cooling break during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semi-final match against Fluminense FC. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“Honestly, the heat is incredible,” Enzo said. “Honestly, I don’t know [how to explain it].
“The other day I got a bit dizzy during a play. I had to lie down on the ground because I was really dizzy. Playing in this temperature is very dangerous, it’s very dangerous.
“Moreover, for the spectacle, for the people who come to enjoy the stadium, for the people who watch it at home. The game, the speed of the game is not the same, everything becomes very slow.”
The United States will co-host next year’s 48-team World Cup with Canada and Mexico during June and July 2026.
Enzo said that the tournament must be reassessed to ensure that the heat does not impact on the competition next summer.
“Let’s hope that next year they change the schedule,” Enzo said. “At least so that it remains a beautiful and attractive football spectacle, right?”
Enzo Fernandez will be hoping his team beat PSG during the finals to cap off a brilliant season. However, 2024/25 UEFA Champions League winner PSG are favourites heading into the game due to their impressive performances this season.
