4. Player Welfare and Summer Conditions
Returning to its traditional Northern Hemisphere summer window after the winter iteration in Qatar 2022, players are battling intense summer heat across North American climates.
To protect player health, FIFA has introduced mandatory water and cooling breaks during matches. Furthermore, squad depth will be tested like never before; any team aiming to lift the iconic trophy on July 19 will have to endure a gruelling eight-match journey, rather than the historical seven.