Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterA major international tournament throws up any number of challenges over the course of a summer.Whether its player selection, injuries, tactics or logistics, a lot has to go right if a team is to trouble the final stages of the competition.This summers World Cup in North America will be no different, with the climate being a further curveball that teams will need to contend with over the next few weeks. You may like Exclusive: England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford addresses concerns over playing in US heat England World Cup group stage schedule is the second-toughest here's the science that proves it EXCLUSIVE Jordan Pickford says England glory depends on 'whether we can put out the best version of ourselves' Former England duo on how to deal with the heatGet a Surfshark VPN in time for the World Cup!Pick up an extra three months of service and up to a $30 (�22) Amazon Gift Card when purchasing a two-year subscription plan.View DealLast summers FIFA Club World Cup tournament gave teams a preview of what to expect this year, with hot and humid conditions forcing breaks in play, while thunderstorms also caused lengthy stoppages.FIFA have since announced that each game at this summers tournament will include built-in drinks breaks 22 minutes into each half and former England striker Emile Heskey, who played in the punishing heat of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, plus the 2010 tournament in South Africa says the conditions cannot be underestimated.The heat is something you have to consider, Heskey tells FourFourTwo. We went there early, and the humidity was the biggest thing. It was getting your breath you have to acclimatise quickly. In 2010, it was also the altitude and the thinning of the air.I remember passing the ball and it was moving all over the place, because the air pressure made it move differently. I thought, Whats going on?Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Chris Waddle also played for the Three Lions in two World Cups, with the former winger experiencing challenging conditions during the 1986 tournament in Mexico.However, he believes that Thomas Tuchels side cannot afford to enter the tournament thinking only about potential pitfalls.When we played in Mexico in 1986, there was the altitude, and the grass was the longest Ive ever played on, he recalls.People say, Footballs football, but its not, you need to get used to it. England arent the greatest team in the heat, other countries are more used to it, but we got to the semi-finals in Italy in 1990 when it was hot.If you let the little things get to you, its all negatives. You need to think positively and say, Were a good side.I dont see any reason why we cant be in that frame in the latter stages. Why not?TOPICSEnglandWorld Cup 2026Joe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromChris FlanaganSenior Staff WriterJoe DonnohueSenior Digital Writer
