Rachel Daly believes heat and humidity could make it unsafe to play matches in the afternoon during the 2026 men’s World Cup in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Daly, now at Women’s Super League side Aston Villa, played college football in New York with St John’s Red Storm and had professional stints at three sides in LA, as well as spending six years at Houston Dash in the NSWL.
The 31-year-old England international was asked about her experiences competing in extreme conditions during her time in the U.S., including over summer, and how that might impact players at the 2026 World Cup.
“The humidity is what gets you the most,” Daly said. “And with heat as well, it’s not the best — especially midday.
“Three o’clock kick-offs is something I think should be avoided because it’s not safe.
“The temperatures rise so high there and, from personal experience, it’s not a safe place to be. Hopefully, they can take the times into account.”
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was moved from the summer — when the tournament is traditionally held — to the winter because of concerns over extreme temperatures in the Gulf state. Many stadiums at last year’s tournament had air conditioning as a means of combatting the heat, with several of the U.S. venues for 2026 also able to…
