World Cup thrown into chaos as FIFA told to postpone match and statement issued

The tournament organisers have issued a statement ahead of the final batch of last-16 fixtures

FIFA has been told it should postpone the World Cup last-16 match between France and Paraguay on Saturday, with the game set to be played in sweltering conditions that could pose a threat to life.

A heatwave has hit eastern and central areas of the United States and is expected to continue over the weekend, with the tournament organisers already forced into making changes to its Fan Festival event in Philadelphia due to the dangerous and potentially record-breaking temperatures expected.

France and Paraguay will face each other in the city at 5pm on Saturday, with the head index – which includes humidity – expected to be between 37C and 46C at the uncovered Philadelphia Stadium.

Under FIFA’s current heat guidelines, any match could be postponed if the wet bulb temperature – accounting for heat and humidity – reaches 32C.

Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now!

With rising concerns for the safety of players, officials and fans, the governing body has been urged to postpone the match and delay kick-off until the evening, when temperatures will be slightly cooler.

One critic added that playing the fixture as it stands puts those involved at “unnecessary risk”, with a postponement of just a few hours making conditions “considerably more playable”.

Director of the Heat Lab at the University of California, Bahart Venkat, told the Associated Press: “When you’re exerting yourself on a particularly hot day, the likelihood of experiencing heat related illness or even death is much higher.”

He added that players’ decision-making could also be negatively impacted by the sweltering temperatures.

This year’s World Cup matches have featured mandatory three-minute hydration breaks midway through each half.

While they have been criticised for disrupting the flow of games, they have remained in force to protect players from extreme heat illness.

In a statement, FIFA said it was taking proactive steps to protect fans heading to Saturday’s match in Philadelphia, such as setting up cooling tents and making water readily available.

“FIFA is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers and staff through a tiered heat mitigation model,” a spokesperson told The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“Through close collaboration with the City of Philadelphia, medical experts and emergency authorities, FIFA remains committed to delivering a safe, resilient and memorable tournament experience for everyone involved.”

It comes as England’s match against Mexico on Sunday was almost brought forward by six hours amid concerns over storms and fan safety.