As the Club World Cup roars into its knockout rounds, with eight teams from three continents chasing soccer’s newest billion-dollar prize, attention has quietly shifted to an issue far more serious than any result on the pitch. While fans around the globe watch on in anticipation, FIFA could be set to make a major 2026 World Cup Final change, prompted by outrage from unions, warnings from scientists, and disruptions already seen in this summer’s US-hosted tournament.
But what exactly is the cause for such urgency—and what kind of change is even on the table for soccer’s most-watched match?
Club World Cup: Trial by fire
The United States is currently hosting the revamped Club World Cup, billed by many as a dry run for next year’s expanded World Cup. But rather than showcasing flawless infrastructure and perfect logistics, it has revealed a darker truth: record-breaking heat and violent storms have wreaked havoc across the tournament.
Temperatures have soared to 39°C in New York, and humidity has made it feel even worse—over 50°C on the heat index. Open-air stadiums, including MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, have offered little relief to players, officials, and tens of thousands of fans sweltering under relentless sun.
“The Club World Cup is a wake-up call,” warned Dr. Vincent Gouttebarge, medical director of FIFPRO, the global players’ union. Two matches—Chelsea vs ES Tunis and PSG vs Atletico Madrid—should have been postponed altogether, he said, citing WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature) readings well beyond safe levels.
Even the normally reserved Alex Phillips, FIFPRO’s secretary general, sounded the alarm: “At some point, shading and water won’t be enough. This is a discussion we need to have—soon.”
The shocking proposal: A 9:00 AM Club World Cup final
Amid the uproar, one proposal has emerged that could fundamentally reshape soccer tradition: move the 2026 World Cup Final to 9:00 AM local time.
This isn’t a prank or a fringe suggestion—it’s being championed by Professor Mike Tipton, a heat stress expert at the University of Portsmouth. “From a thermal-physiological perspective, for both health and performance reasons, I’d be looking to start games as early as possible,” he told BBC Sport. “I’d move it to an air-conditioned stadium with a roof, and preferably to a cooler time of year. But since that cannot be changed, a morning kickoff is the next best option.”
MetLife Stadium, set to host the 2026 final, has no roof, minimal shade, and is already under scrutiny for its vulnerability to extreme heat. Most World Cup matches are expected to kick off at 3:00 PM, 6:00 PM, and 9:00 PM, but those windows now seem dangerously exposed to summer heatwaves.
Tipton went even further, suggesting that matches may one day need to be divided into quarters rather than halves. “It’s not beyond the realms that matches have to go to quarters,” he said. “The health risks aren’t just for players. They affect referees and especially spectators, many of whom are less fit and older.”
