Reece James Urges Fifa to Adjust World Cup Kick-off Times Amid Heat Concerns
England defender Reece James is advocating for Fifa to reconsider kick-off times for next year's World Cup to help players cope with potentially oppressive summer temperatures.
The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is set to begin on June 11. However, there are growing concerns regarding the extreme heat conditions teams are expected to encounter.
James, 25, who captained Chelsea to victory in the Club World Cup this summer in the US, faced criticism over the harsh conditions. His teammate Enzo Fernandez described feeling "dizzy" during matches played in "very dangerous" heat.
"It’s incredibly challenging to play in such heat, especially for us coming from England, where we don’t experience anything like that," James remarked.
Research conducted by Queen's University Belfast indicates that temperatures at 14 of the 16 stadiums designated for the 2026 World Cup may reach dangerously high levels during the tournament.
Philadelphia, one of the US cities hosting matches, issued a severe heat warning during a Chelsea training session this summer, with temperatures soaring to 37°C. The humidity made it feel even hotter, at around 45°C.
England, who have already qualified for the tournament with two matches to spare, would benefit from later kick-off times when temperatures are cooler, according to manager Thomas Tuchel.
"Certainly, that would help," James stated. "Later kick-offs, when it’s not so hot and humid, would definitely be beneficial."
England is planning a warm-weather training camp in Florida to help players acclimatize for the tournament and will develop a "heat-proof" game plan, according to assistant coach Anthony Barry.
When asked if Fifa had reached out for feedback regarding kick-off times after the Club World Cup, James replied, "No, I haven’t been asked about my thoughts on kick-off times. I’m sure they have consulted someone, possibly managers or club officials, and I hope they have received some feedback."
Fifa is likely to schedule matches involving major European nations after midnight UK time to mitigate heat issues. It is expected that kick-off times will resemble those of the Club World Cup, where the earliest matches began at 17:00 BST, followed by 20:00, 23:00, and 02:00.
"You feel the heat the moment you step outside the hotel. The conditions are extremely hot," James continued. "Once you are out there, you adapt the longer you stay, especially when you settle in one place and try to limit your exposure to the heat. The pitches we played on weren’t the best either, which made it a bit tougher. Hopefully, by the time the World Cup arrives, conditions will have improved."
England will face Serbia at Wembley Stadium on Thursday before traveling to Albania on Sunday.