Enzo Fernández criticizes dangerous heat conditions at Club World Cup

Enzo Fernández, Chelsea’s Argentine midfielder, has raised serious concerns about the playing conditions at the Club World Cup — extreme temperatures have created a dangerous environment for players.

During the semifinal match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, temperatures reached 95.5°F at kickoff — conditions that caused Fernández to experience serious health issues on the field.

“I got dizzy during play and had to lie down on the ground. Playing in this temperature is very dangerous,” stated Fernández. “It also impacts the game — everything becomes very slow and reduces the quality of the spectacle.”

Data from FIFPRO shows that three matches should have been postponed as temperatures exceeded the 28°C threshold on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature gauge.

Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s head of global football development, acknowledged these issues and revealed plans to address them:

• Use of roofed stadiums in several cities
• Implementation of cooling breaks
• Field watering during breaks
• Analysis of heat impact on player performance