With the FIFA World Cup 2026 taking place across the USA, Canada and Mexico, extreme heat is expected to be one of the key challenges facing athletes, medical teams and support staff.
Several host cities regularly experience temperatures above 32°C, placing increased emphasis on hydration, recovery, environmental monitoring and the recognition of exertional heat illness. While these challenges will be visible on football’s biggest stage, exercising and competing safely in the heat is relevant to sports therapists working across all levels of sport.
To support both the wider sporting community and our members, The Society of Sports Therapists has developed a range of resources focused on heat illness awareness, emergency planning and match day preparation.
⚽ Our public article, “When Temperatures Rise: How Sports Therapists Keep Athletes Safe and Performing”, explores how Sports Therapists help athletes prepare for, adapt to and perform safely in hot conditions. The article highlights the role of heat acclimatisation, hydration planning, recovery strategies and the recognition of heat-related illness.
⚽ For SST members, we have also launched the World Cup 2026 Resource Hub. The hub includes practical tools and educational resources covering:
- Exertional Heat Illness guidance
- Heat Illness Infographics
- Match Day and Clinic Readiness Checklists
- Medical Emergency Action Plan (MEAP) templates
- Knowledge-check questionnaires and answer sheets
- Emergency planning resources for clinical and event environments
Whether you are supporting athletes in grassroots sport, private practice, event settings or professional football, these resources have been designed to help practitioners prepare, plan and respond with confidence.
Read the public article and learn more here.
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