Archive June 21, 2025

After beating Mamelodi Sundowns in 32C heat on Saturday at the Club World Cup in Cincinnati, Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac declared that he was “sweating like I’ve just come out of a sauna.”

The first half was watched from the dressing room by Dortmund’s substitutes, who then hid under umbrellas on the bench for the second half.

Never seen before, but in this heat, it makes sense for our subs to watch the first half from inside the locker room at TQL Stadium.

Before the game, which started at noon local time, Kovac had raised concerns about the conditions.

Both teams had a difficult start, but the opposition [in South Africa] are used to it,” he continued.

A fourth game was postponed due to thunderstorms on Friday, which has continued to affect the Club World Cup.

The delay had caused more than an hour before Mamelodi Sundowns against Ulsan HD in the same city.

And there were lengthy intermissions between Salzburg and Pachuca in Cincinnati and Palmeiras v Al-Ahly in New Jersey (40 minutes).

According to Fossil Free Football, ten games are scheduled for the following week that could result in significant or extreme heat risks.

The United States, Canada, and Mexico are co-hosting the World Cup, which comes just one year after it ends.

According to Dr. Chris Tyler, an expert on heat stress in elite sports, “many of the players who are anticipating competing in 2026 are already getting a taste of what’s in store.”

“Such things will be commonplace, with many of the events scheduled before 5 p.m. to maximize TV audiences.

Extreme heat might turn out to be the tournament’s most formidable adversary.

Particular concern is expressed by Fossil Free Football’s predictions for the next two games, which will have a heat index of 38C (Real Madrid vs. Pachuca) and 41C (Benfica vs. Bayern).

This underscores the dangers that players and fans will encounter at this and in 2026. There is little that Fifa can do to calm safety fears.

In Nashville’s 41C on a field with little cover is scheduled for the game between Auckland City and Boca Juniors, which is part-time football in New Zealand.

In the upcoming heatwave, matches will also be played in Philadelphia, New York, Cincinnati, and Washington, DC.

Marcos Llorente described the 32C match as “incredibly hot” and said “my toes were sore, my nails were hurting… it’s incredible.”

Fans complained about long lines and water restrictions when arriving at the stadium and that they had to leave that game due to the heat.

According to a Fifa statement, “Fifa’s top priority is the health of everyone who plays football,” and its medical experts have been in frequent contact with the participating clubs to discuss heat management and acclimatization.

Fans are permitted to bring empty, clear bottles of up to one litre into stadiums as well as cooling breaks in the 30th and 75th minute, respectively.

Los Angeles FC defeated Chelsea 3-1 in their opening game against Flamengo on Friday, making them one of two English teams competing alongside Manchester City.

From a scheduling perspective, there will be concerns about the delays in games in addition to the danger the heat poses to players, staff, and supporters.

For thunder and lightning storms and heavy rain, there were waits of 40 minutes to two and a half hours for four of the first 21 games.

The potential for overlapping matches at the 2026 World Cup won’t disappoint broadcasters.

An hour before Chelsea’s match against Flamengo was scheduled to end, Benfica vs. Auckland City had to come to an end, but the Blues’ defeat came about after the final whistle was blown.

Coach Bruno Lage of Benfica said, “This is the longest game of my career. “Our fans, who have been here for five hours, deserve special appreciation.

At Headingley on Saturday. fancy attire On the Western Terrace, a group of clergymen took their place.

Ollie Pope might have been a part of the universe they were watching from the sidelines. Perhaps Jacob Bethell never put his place in danger.

If Ben Stokes had jumped at the chance to keep his vice-captain at number three for the first Test against India, Pope had chosen the ideal time to play the appreciative disciple.

Pope’s century, which came after Stokes’ Stokes gave the captain a chance to escape purgatory, saw England bat first in a score of 209-3, 262 behind India’s 471.

Ben Duckett, who made 62 in a stand of 122 with Pope, said, “It sums up and demonstrates why he’s England number three.”

Any debate between Pope and Bethell is absurd, in the end, there is a case. While Bethell has never scored a century in professional cricket, Pope increased his average to 45.19 on Saturday, making him England’s first-drop.

Numbers alone cannot accurately represent the entire picture. Pope’s stats reveal a feast-or-famine career: only six of his previous 98 Test knocks resulted in 34% of his runs. Pope can act nervous and skittishly when he’s on the field. Bethell, who is calm, appears to be destined for international success.

Stokes ended the discussion on Thursday by referring to the May 171 Pope’s attack on Zimbabwe. Without ever going into more detail about what might have transpired if Pope had failed at Trent Bridge, Stokes claimed it would have been “remarkable” to leave him out after such a long innings.

“A dressing room makes noise outside, but there is no noise inside,” Duckett said.

“We’re not talking about who will play,” he said. Coming into this Test match, it seemed pretty obvious that if a guy had scored 171 a few weeks ago, he would play this one.

England and India are two teams that England face in 10 crucial Tests during the Stokes era, and Pope acknowledged the need to improve his performance against them.

One of the all-time great innings by an Englishman overseas was his 196 against India in Hyderabad at the beginning of last year, but he has also produced subpar results against the world’s two biggest teams.

The best bowler in the world, Jasprit Bumrah, was the main obstacle to breaking that record. The violent incident that Bumrah used to dismiss Pope in Visakhapatnam 18 months ago led to the need for a health warning.

Bumrah had everything in his favor on Saturday. Floodlights and a moody sky as he stutters down the slope. Pope arrived at the crease with a score of 4-1 when Zak Crawley was edged inside out.

What followed was a bravery, perseverance, and determination display. The best century Pope has ever had in a home test, not quite the heights of Hyderabad, but it was undoubtedly his third in a row.

What batter would need fortune when Bumrah bowls with such potency? Every delivery was risk-filled, and the paceman was truly magnificent.

When Pope and Duckett were heading toward the same end, Pope edged Bumrah between third slip and gully when he had 10 and could have run out on 15.

Pope displayed a serenity that hasn’t been present for him in the past. Yes, there were still some ugly ball shots and a high 27-feeb false-shot percentage, but those were mixed with good judgment.

Pope was quick to react when India’s line went a little off the mark when he crossed his stumps. The majority of his runs were scored behind square on the other side, but he also tucked in from his pads. The Surrey man didn’t score anything in the “V” down the field.

Former England captain Alastair Cook testified on Test Match Special, “He undoubtedly played with the most control in the way he played Bumrah.”

He later played the ball, not knowing whether it was a conscious choice. He appeared much less agitated.

The longest day of the year moved play past 7pm as the sun set and the close approached. Bumrah summoned for one more solo effort, Pope on 99.

Pope leapt in celebration as an inside edge trickled to his square leg. He greeted the Western Terrace audience with applause before saluting the dressing room.

The clergymen had been waiting for the moment. They recognized their Pope and sped away from the building.

When Joe Root edged Bumrah to first slip, they would have been hardly ever seen down the stairs, and Harry Brook was the only one to be saved by a Bumrah no-ball.

The chance for a Sunday service to carry out England’s fightback is still up for grabs.