Croatia braces for 'hellish' heat at 2026 World Cup

Croatia's national football team faces a daunting challenge at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, where extreme heat and humidity are expected to significantly impact play. Many teams have opted for early arrivals in training camps across the U.S. and Mexico to acclimatize to the demanding weather conditions.

The Croatian squad, led by coach Zlatko Dalić, recently traveled to the U.S. after a rest day following their match against Slovenia. Dalić decided against an overly early arrival, aiming to prevent the players from exhausting themselves in the intense heat before the tournament begins.

Their opening match against England in Dallas on June 17 is particularly concerning, scheduled for 3 PM local time. Initial forecasts for the Netherlands vs. Japan match, also at the same stadium and time, predict temperatures soaring to 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). Such conditions are notoriously difficult at major tournaments, where the high pace of games can be severely affected by physical fatigue.

Players will need to carefully manage their energy reserves and potentially adopt different game plans to cope. The only consolation is that both Croatia and England will endure the same harsh environment, making adaptation a key factor for success. The team can also learn from the Netherlands-Japan match to better prepare for the conditions and their opponents.