Heat at the Club World Cup: When temperatures become a problem

Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel has the ability to formulate his statements with a precision that is rare in professional football. "Apart from the result, there's not much positive to say," he said after BVB almost squandered a 4-1 lead against perennial South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns in their second appearance at the Club World Cup, ultimately coming away with a 4-3 victory.

Another example of Kobel's verbal clarity: "It's summer. Of course it's hot." The Dortmund goalkeeper contributed this statement to the overarching theme of the match in Cincinnati, which also fundamentally affects the Club World Cup: the heat in the stadiums. BVB's match took place at 12 noon local time, and the sun was blazing mercilessly. The temperature was 30 degrees Celsius, and the perceived temperature was even higher.

Coach Niko Kovac reported that he didn't have to do anything except stand on the sidelines – and yet he was sweating like he'd just stepped out of a sauna. To protect himself from the sun, Dortmund's substitutes were allowed to stay in the locker room during the first half. During breaks, wet towels were also handed out along with water. The many empty seats in the stands were a blessing – allowing spectators to retreat to the shaded seats.

Conditions like those in Cincinnati change the game, in theory – and in practice. In the run-up to the meeting with Mamelodi Sundowns, Dortmund coach Kovac had set the tone for his team to have as much possession as possible to avoid constantly chasing the ball in the midday heat. So much for the theory.

In practice, however, the opponents had more possession. Due to the temperature, it seemed as if Dortmund had slowed down a bit after the 4-1 lead. This almost had fatal consequences. Unlike goalkeeper Kobel, coach Kovac cited the conditions as the reason for his team's performance: "We certainly didn't play our best game, but that wasn't possible either."

BVB isn't the only club suffering from the heat at the Club World Cup. Especially during the midday and afternoon matches, temperatures regularly reach around 30 degrees Celsius (local time), and depending on the location, humidity is high. In the preliminary round (after Sunday), eight matches are scheduled for 12:00 or 3:00 p.m. In the round of 16, only two matches are scheduled for the evening, and in the quarterfinals, just one.

The two semifinals and the final are scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. local time to accommodate the European market. The matches begin at 9 p.m. in German time. This means that the teams will be required to play during the warmest hours of the day until the end of the Club World Cup.

The coming week could be extreme in terms of conditions. The US East Coast, where ten of the twelve Club World Cup stadiums are located, is bracing for what CNN calls a "dangerous, record-breaking" heat wave. Borussia Dortmund may have to play its final group match against Ulsan HD on Wednesday in Cincinnati in 33 degrees Celsius. FC Bayern Munich is expected to face as much as 36 degrees Celsius on Tuesday against Benfica in Charlotte.

The high temperatures, which will also affect the World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada next year, are causing problems not only for the players but also for the spectators. After the match between Atlético Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, for example, the Guardian reported on dangerous conditions in the stands because the crowd lacked adequate access to water in the stadium.

The game also took place in Pasadena, near Los Angeles, at the Rose Bowl. Following traditional American construction, the arena has no roof, thus offering no shade. The same applies to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, among others. In addition to the semifinals and final of the Club World Cup, this is where the final of the traditional World Cup will be held next year.