Morten Thorsby is expected to be in the squad selected by Norway for his country's first appearance at a men's World Cup since 1998. He founded "We Play Green" in 2020 — a movement urging soccer players to engage in environmental and climate issues.
Thorsby is among a group of current or former soccer players backing calls for FIFA to strengthen heat protocols at the tournament being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11.
Open Letter to FIFA
An open letter to FIFA by the New Weather Institute and signed by Thorsby and dozens of other players says it is "essential that the best available medical expertise is put to practice" at the tournament.
"We share the concerns outlined by the medical professionals and support their demand that FIFA updates its heat-stress framework before the World Cup," the letter states.
Medical Experts' Warnings
In a separate open letter to soccer's world governing body, a group of leading health experts wrote of what they perceive to be "worrying levels of heat stress" to which players could be exposed.
They said they are "concerned that FIFA's current guidelines on heat stress mitigation are inadequate and will place players at risk of heat injury."
Among the things they called for was 6-minute cooling breaks during matches and for locker rooms to have "the right equipment for aggressive pre-game and halftime cooling."
Research Findings
Researchers have said that 14 of the 16 cities staging matches at the World Cup will experience "levels of extreme heat, which could be potentially dangerous to players, match officials and possibly spectators."
According to research, wet bulb globe temperatures could exceed 90 F (32 C) in the afternoons in Monterrey, Mexico, with Miami cited for its "particularly high humidity."
FIFA's Existing Protocols
FIFA has already created a Heat Illness Mitigation and Management Task Force comprised of medical and operational experts.
The governing body has brought in several heat protocols, such as 3-minute hydration breaks for players midway through each half, regardless of weather conditions.
Staff and substitutes will have access to climate-controlled benches at outdoor matches. Climate conditions have been factored into the match schedule, FIFA has said.