Chelsea's Fernández Warns About Dangerous Heat in East Rutherford: FIFA Should Rethink Afternoon World Cup Kickoffs -

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Enzo Fernández, Chelsea’s midfielder, voiced serious concerns about the extreme heat during preparations for the Club World Cup final in East Rutherford, N.J. He described the weather conditions as “incredible” and shared that he experienced dizziness during a recent moment on the field, which forced him to lie down to recover.

This intense heat presents a significant challenge for both Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain players, who are enduring similarly harsh conditions. Fernández highlighted the physical strain that such high temperatures impose on players and urged FIFA to reconsider the scheduling of World Cup matches, particularly those in the afternoon when the heat peaks.

Health Risks and Player Safety

The extreme temperatures raise several concerns, including:

Dehydration
Heat exhaustion
Potential impact on player performance and overall safety

Because of these risks, there are increasing calls for matches to be played during cooler periods of the day to better protect the players.

Precautionary Measures

Both Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are taking careful steps to manage these challenging weather conditions, focusing on:

Player hydration and recovery strategies
Monitoring player health closely during matches
Working with officials to ensure a safe environment throughout the tournament

As the tournament progresses, attention remains on how scheduling and environmental factors affect the athletes’ wellbeing. Fans and stakeholders are encouraged to stay tuned for further updates from Questiqa USA.