Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has urged FIFA to reconsider kick-off times for the 2026 World Cup in the United States amid concerns about the weather conditions.
The World Cup winner has warned that being exposed to extreme heat could seriously affect the health of the players and the quality of the matches.
The 24-year-old has joined the growing chorus of voices calling on FIFA to make changes to the World Cup schedule.
Fernandez opened up about his struggles with the sweltering conditions during Chelsea’s 2-0 Club World Cup semi-final win against Fluminense.
He revealed that the extreme heat and humidity at the MetLife Stadium left him dizzy and forced him to drop to the ground during the high-stakes contest.
“The heat is incredible,” Fernandez said (via The Athletic), two days ahead of Chelsea’s eagerly anticipated showdown against Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final.
“The other day, I got a little dizzy from playing, and I had to go to the ground. The truth is, playing at that time is very dangerous. It’s very dangerous.
“The speed of play is not the same. Everything becomes very slow. Let’s hope for next year they change the times so, more than anything, the football continues to be nice and attractive.”
Fernandez’s warning comes as FIFA continue to plan for next summer’s showpiece. The World Cup final will be played at the MetLife Stadium.
The governing body hasn’t confirmed a kick-off time, but they are reportedly leaning towards another 3.00 pm kick-off slot.
Fernandez will have Sunday’s Club World Cup final against PSG firmly on his mind. He has been a standout player for Chelsea at the tournament, notching a goal and three assists.
He has also created three big chances and averages 1.7 key passes per 90 minutes.
Fernandez will be key to Chelsea’s hopes of being crowned world champions, but they have a massive fight on their hands against the Champions League holders.
