The World Cup 2026 final match may be postponed due to heat: what is known.

According to The Sun: Fans of the England national team will probably have to stay up to watch their matches at the World Cup. FIFA is considering postponing the start of games to a later time to avoid heat and thunderstorms.

Several matches of the Club World Cup in the USA were interrupted this summer due to thunderstorms and lightning. Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca and his team noted that playing in conditions with temperatures over 90 degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity is almost impossible.

Global players' representatives urged FIFA to pay attention to safety and the health of players by not scheduling matches in the midday heat when the likelihood of thunderstorms increases.

FIFA is ready to review the schedule so that matches take place later in American-European time, possible options are midnight or even later hours, even if it doesn't coincide with the interests of television and fans.

The current final game is scheduled for July 19 in New Jersey, with a start time of 15:00 — during times when the heat reaches its peak.

“This is always a concern in our region — summer in Canada is just as hot as in the USA,” admitted FIFA Vice President, Canadian Victor Montagliani.

He also noted: “We are in daily negotiations with European broadcasters about which stadiums can accommodate matches at 15:00, for example, in Atlanta.”

World Cup Expansion Issues

Speaking at Leaders Week in London at the Allianz Stadium, Montagliani, one of the most influential figures in FIFA, confirmed that he is against proposals to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams.

“I don’t see the sense in 64 teams. This is not only our position but UEFA and Asia are also against it,” he said.

He added: “The Club World Cup was a huge success, but we need to determine what is achievable and discuss it with all stakeholders, including the European Club Association.”

Montagliani also commented on the question of moving matches from US cities that President Donald Trump does not like, saying: “This is a FIFA tournament, and we make those decisions.”

Regarding Israel's future in world football, he noted that this issue will be discussed at the FIFA Council meeting, but the status of the country depends on UEFA.

“Israel is a member of UEFA; this is a decision for UEFA,” he concluded.

FIFA is guided by safety principles when organizing matches, as now, when temperature records are becoming more frequent, it is important to ensure the comfort and health of athletes. From the perspective of television companies and fans, such changes can significantly impact broadcast times, but player safety remains a priority. It is important to keep an eye on further decisions from FIFA which may change the format of the tournament.