Here's how hot Levi's Stadium will get during first World Cup match
The Bay Area's first World Cup match in three decades will be a hot one.
Temperatures at Levi's Stadium are forecast to soar into the 80s - and potentially reaching 90 degrees - during Saturday's match between Qatar and Switzerland.
With a noon kickoff, the match will be played in direct sunshine. Levi's Stadium has limited shade and often bakes during fall afternoon San Francisco 49ers games. The sun is much higher in early June, near the summer solstice.
"Even if air temperatures are only in the 80s, sitting in direct sunlight for two or more hours can significantly increase heat exposure," said Dr. Heather Taher, an emergency medicine physician at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose. "Fans should stay hydrated, wear sunscreen and light-colored clothing, and seek shade when possible. Anyone who develops dizziness, headache, nausea or confusion should move to a cooler area and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen."
Santa Clara is one of the trickiest locations to forecast in the Bay Area because of its proximity to San Francisco Bay. If winds flip and a cool bay breeze develops, temperatures will remain in the 80s at Levi's Stadium throughout Saturday's match. But there's a chance the breeze holds off until after 2 p.m. If that happens, temperatures could reach 90 degrees during the second half.
The National Weather Service did not officially have a heat advisory in effect for the South Bay on Saturday - the current advisory ends Friday evening - but the agency acknowledged that temperatures could rise.
"Our biggest concerns are this first match, because we have lingering heat," said Dylan Flynn, a meteorologist at the weather service's Bay Area office. "We probably won't have a heat advisory, but lingering heat and it's in the middle of the day."
FIFA announced all World Cup matches will include a three-minute water break in each half, regardless of the weather, to "ensure equal conditions for all teams, in all matches."
That's a break from tradition for FIFA, which typically reserves hydration breaks for the hottest and muggiest games. Saturday's weather will be much different from the climate of the competing nations. The average June high temperature in Doha, Qatar, is a humid 105 degrees, while Zurich is a mild 69 degrees.
There is a 17% chance that heat impacts player performance during the Switzerland-Qatar match, according to Climate Central, a nonprofit science organization. That was made 2% more likely by climate change.
"When temperatures rise, particularly in direct sun, the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke increases," Dr. Taher said. "Athletes can also experience decreased performance as the body works harder to regulate its temperature."
Matches in Kansas City, Mo., and Miami, along with Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico, face a higher risk of performance-impacting heat - defined as temperatures above 82 degrees - than Santa Clara, according to Climate Central. But the risk of heat is higher at Levi's Stadium than in Seattle, Toronto and Boston.
Experts warn that heat, combined with alcohol consumption, poses danger to spectators due to dehydration and other heat-related illnesses.
"Alcohol can contribute to dehydration and may make it harder to recognize early symptoms of heat-related illness," Dr. Taher said. "It can increase the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, especially during prolonged outdoor events."
A World Cup match is a unique event for Levi's Stadium from a weather and sports standpoint. Most events are fall 49ers games or evening concerts. The hottest Niners game on record at the stadium came in October 2024, when the mercury reached 95 degrees at kickoff. Most concerts at the venue don't begin until close to sunset.
Other group stage matches in Santa Clara are scheduled for evening kickoffs, making them less at risk for heat-related impacts. But a knockout round match on July 1 kicks off at 5 p.m., which could again be hot.
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