As the Triangle braces for dangerous heat heading into the Fourth of July holiday, hundreds of soccer fans are expected to gather at Moore Square Wednesday night to cheer on Team USA.
The heat they’ll experience in Raleigh is part of a much bigger story unfolding at the World Cup.
A Climate Central analysis found dangerously hot summer days have become more common at nearly every stadium hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup compared with the first North American tournament in 1970. Researchers say the trend is increasing health risks for players and the more than 5 million fans expected to attend matches.
Among the fans gathering in downtown Raleigh is Jakub Bilek, who has already traveled to Atlanta and New Jersey to watch World Cup matches in person.
“The World Cup really brings everyone together,” Bilek said. “It doesn’t matter which country you support. Everyone is friendly, dancing together and meeting people from all over the world.”
Bilek said both matches he attended were played in temperatures around 85 degrees, though Atlanta’s climate-controlled stadium helped keep spectators comfortable.
Those concerns come as Team USA opens the knockout round Wednesday night. Climate Central estimates there’s about a 26% chance temperatures during the match in the San Francisco Bay Area reach levels above 82.4 degrees Fahrenheit, a threshold researchers say can slow elite soccer players by affecting how fast, how far and how often they sprint.
To help protect players, FIFA has implemented mandatory hydration breaks at all 104 World Cup matches. Organizers have also scheduled more evening matches in some of the tournament’s hottest host cities.
Some cities have seen dramatic increases in extreme summer heat since the last time they hosted the tournament.
Miami now averages 12 extremely hot days during June and July, compared with just two before it hosted the 1994 World Cup, according to Climate Central.
“Nearly all 16 host stadiums are seeing more extremely hot days in the months of June and July than they did during the first North American World Cup back in 1970,” said Shel Winkley, a meteorologist with Climate Central.
The trend extends across many returning host cities. Climate Central found the number of extremely hot summer days has tripled, on average, in the 10 cities that previously hosted World Cup matches. Houston, Dallas, Miami and Mexico City are among the locations seeing the greatest increase in extreme heat.
“Most of these stadiums are open air and that’s a real concern, because in extreme heat, the body’s ability to cool itself through sweating can be overwhelmed, especially when humidity is high, and for players already pushing their bodies to the limit, that raises the risk for heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and even heat stroke,” Winkley said. “Any one of those can take someone out of the match.”
Moore Square hosting free Team USA watch party
Fans who want to watch Team USA with other supporters can head to Moore Square in downtown Raleigh for a free watch party Wednesday night.
The event begins at 8 p.m., when Team USA opens the knockout stage. Admission is free, and food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Organizers say they’ll continue hosting Team USA watch parties throughout the tournament if the U.S. advances. A World Cup Final watch party is also planned for July 19, regardless of which teams reach the championship match.