See Experience At Club World Cup, Chelsea Players Call For Change World Cup Schedule 2026

JAKARTA - Chelsea player Enzo Fernandez said match conditions at the 2025 Club World Cup were very dangerous. He also urged FIFA to change schedules at the 2026 World Cup so as not to harm the players in next year's tournament.

Extreme heat during the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States has caused several well-known players and coaches to voice their concerns over the condition.

The World Professional Footballer Union, FIFPro, has provided data showing that three matches should be postponed due to hot temperatures exceeding the 28 degrees Celsius threshold on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) gauge.

Chelsea's semifinal win against Fluminense at the MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, in the middle of last week recorded a temperature of 96 degrees Fahrenheit (35.5 degrees Celsius) when the match started at 15.00 local time.

The Premier League team faces Paris Saint-Germain in the final, Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the same place at 15.00 local time. Enzo said he had difficulty dealing with these conditions.

"To be honest, the heat was incredible. To be honest, I don't know (how to explain it)."

"A few days ago I was a bit dizzy while playing. I had to lie on the ground because I was really dizzy. Playing in this temperature is very dangerous, very dangerous."

"Moreover, for the spectacle, for people who come to enjoy the game, for people who watch it at home. Matches, match speeds are not the same, things get very slow," Enzo said.

The United States will host the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico during June and July 2026.

Enzo said the tournament should be re-evaluated to ensure that the heat does not impact next summer's tournament.

"Hopefully next year they will change the schedule. At least to keep it a beautiful and interesting football spectacle, right?" said the Argentine.