A Norway international likely headed to the is among a group of current or former soccer players backing calls for FIFA to strengthen heat protocols at the tournament.
Morten Thorsby is expected to be in the squad selected by Norway for his country鈥檚 first appearance at a men’s World Cup since 1998. In 2020, he founded 鈥淲e Play Green鈥� 鈥� a movement that urges soccer players to engage in environmental and climate issues.
to FIFA by the New Weather Institute and signed by Thorsby and dozens of other players 鈥� none of whom are going to the World Cup 鈥� says it is 鈥渆ssential that the best available medical expertise is put to practice鈥� at the tournament being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11.
鈥淲e share the concerns outlined by the medical professionals and support their demand that FIFA updates its heat-stress framework before the World Cup,鈥� the letter states.
In an open letter to soccer’s world governing body, dated last week, of what they perceive to be 鈥渨orrying levels of heat stress鈥� to which players could be exposed at the World Cup and said they are 鈥渃oncerned that FIFA鈥檚 current guidelines on heat stress mitigation are inadequate and will place players at risk of heat injury.鈥�
Among the things they called for was 6-minute cooling breaks during matches and for locker rooms to have 鈥渢he right equipment for aggressive pre-game and halftime cooling.鈥�
Previously, that 14 of the 16 cities staging matches at the World Cup will experience 鈥渓evels of extreme heat, which could be potentially dangerous to players, match officials and possibly spectators.鈥� According to , wet bulb globe temperatures 鈥� which factor humidity, wind speed, sun angle and more 鈥� could exceed 90 F (32 C) in the afternoons in Monterrey, Mexico, with Miami cited for its 鈥減articularly high humidity.鈥�
FIFA has already created a Heat Illness Mitigation and Management Task Force comprised of medical and operational experts and brought in several heat protocols, such as 3-minute hydration breaks for players midway through each half, regardless of weather conditions, while staff and substitutes will have access to climate-controlled benches at outdoor matches.
Climate conditions have been factored into the match schedule, FIFA has said.
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