������Ƶ

MIAMI: Soaring temperatures and oppressive humidity at the Club World Cup are fueling concerns among players, coaches, and fans, with calls for additional cooling breaks and adjustments to match schedules.

Midday kickoff temperatures in Pasadena at the weekend approached 32° Celsius (89.6° Fahrenheit), forcing players in the Paris St. Germain vs. Atletico Madrid match to dig in early as the midday sun blazed on the Rose Bowl’s uncovered stands and pitch.

Atletico’s Marcos Llorente described the conditions as “terribly hot,” saying “my toes were sore, my nails were hurting... it’s incredible.”

Fans, too, voiced concern.

Attendees at the Rose Bowl complained of long queues in harsh heat, limited shaded areas and water restrictions at entry, with some leaving at halftime due to dehydration and fear of fainting.

Similar mid-afternoon kickoff conditions are planned for upcoming matches, stoking safety concerns for supporters and players.

Monday’s match in Pasadena was not an isolated incident. Miami and Los Angeles are experiencing temperatures north of 30° C (86° F), many rising above the 32° C heat-stress threshold, triggering warnings from player unions.

Tuesday’s game between Real Madrid and Al-Hilal is scheduled at 1500 local time with temperatures expected to reach 32°C with humidity set to hover around 70 percent.

The world players’ union FIFPRO has suggested FIFA should revise scheduling, if needed.

“FIFPRO has consistently advocated for comprehensive heat protection measures including mandatory cooling breaks, adjustments to kick-off times to avoid the most intense heat, and the postponement of matches when conditions pose a serious health risk to players,” FIFPRO said.

“With tournaments like the Club World Cup featuring dense match schedules and hot climates in locations such as Orlando and Miami, extreme heat is becoming an increasingly important health and safety issue in professional football.

“FIFPRO will closely monitor the situation in the coming weeks with a view to prioritising player welfare over other considerations.”

The current rules permit one mandatory break per half.

England coach Thomas Tuchel, observing the tournament as part of planning for next year’s World Cup in North America, warned the tournament schedule would resemble “suffering,” with players battling harsh midday conditions.

The heat represents one of many controversies plaguing the expanded 32-team format. FIFPRO and the PFA have launched legal action in Brussels, alleging FIFA overstepped by introducing an unsustainable four-week calendar, risking player burnout.

Critics say the added fixtures, combined with sweltering heat, could severely strain player welfare.

FIFA, however, maintains that the extended summer fixtures align with the broader International Match Calendar and that existing protocols are sufficient.

LOS ANGELES: Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said the atmosphere at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta was “a bit strange” as his side began their Club World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC in front of swathes of empty seats.

The multi-purpose stadium has a 71,000 capacity but Monday’s group stage match, which kicked-off at 3 p.m., attracted little over 22,000 spectators.

Atlanta is over 2,000 miles (3,220 km) away from Los Angeles, where Major League Soccer club LAFC are based.

“It was a good match, a good performance,” Maresca told reporters. “I think the environment was a bit strange. The stadium was almost empty. Not full.”

The Italian expected more fans to be in attendance when they take on Brazilian side Flamengo at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Friday.

“We prepared for this game also thinking that the environment was a bit different,” Maresca said.

“But no doubt that the next one will be a nice one because we know that the Brazilian team, they always bring many, many fans. So we will try to be ready for the next one.”

Maresca was asked about what impact he expects from forward Liam Delap, who joined the club for around 30 million pounds from Ipswich Town ($40.73 million) on a six-year deal.

Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku and Marc Guiu are already options for the number nine shirt at Chelsea but the 22-year-old Englishman wasted no time in showcasing his potential, setting up Enzo Fernandez for their second goal on Monday.

“I am curious to see how Nico reacts (to Delap),” said Maresca. “He competed with Guiu, who is very young, during the season. They are both good number nines.”

Chelsea are level with Flamengo at the top of the group after the Brazilians beat Esperance de Tunis 2-0.