Workers are risking dangerous heat to keep the World Cup running

This is a story about extreme heat and worker safety, not home energy upgrades, but it points to a broader climate reality: heat waves are getting hotter and more frequent, and they carry real risks for anyone spending time outdoors.

At this year's World Cup, players get hydration breaks and some stadiums have air conditioning, but concession sellers, cleaners, security staff, and parking lot workers often don't get the same protection from the heat. Several host cities, including Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Philadelphia, New York, and Toronto, saw a heat dome bring dangerously high temperatures last week. Researchers warned before the tournament that workers face higher risk than athletes because they may not be acclimated to the heat, may have underlying health conditions, and are covered by a patchwork of different company policies and state or national regulations rather than one uniform safety standard.

FIFA says it uses a "tiered heat mitigation model" that adds shade, water, and adjusted work-rest schedules as temperatures rise, along with a heat illness task force. Even so, workers in Atlanta reported symptoms of heat stress during a recent match played at noon in 93-degree heat. Advocates are calling for stronger heat protection rules for workers and want FIFA to build those protections directly into its agreements with host cities for future events.