Even as they dueled last week in Houston, Canada and Morocco have something in common: They’re both World Cup hosts in an era of rising temperatures.
That shared status — Canada co-hosting this year with the U.S. and Mexico, and Morocco in 2030 with Portugal and Spain — has led the World Health Organization, to work with both countries on a Beat the Heat initiative that the United Nations’ global health body developed with FIFA to address the risks of extreme weather at sporting and mass gathering events.
While last week’s urgent concerns revolved around North American humidity, which makes heat worse because it limits the body’s ability to cool itself through sweating, four years from now public health officials will be worrying about high, dry heat and strong sun exposure. That the 2030 emphasis there will be on cooling areas, hydration and sun protection, said WHO spokesperson Tarik Jašarević.
“The consistent message is that every host city should conduct its own heat risk assessment and build a tailored heat health action plan, rather than apply a single fixed rule,” Jašarević said.
