Hard Rock Stadium

Hard Rock Stadium

Miami, USA | Capacity: 65,000 | Open-air with partial canopy

Location & Climate

• ◆Coordinates: 25.958°N, 80.2389°W
• ◆Altitude: 2m above sea level
• ◆Timezone: EDT (UTC-4)
• ◆June temperature: 32°C high / 24°C low
• ◆July temperature: 33°C high / 25°C low
• ◆Humidity: ~70%
• ◆WBGT range: 27-29°C
• ◆Climate: MOST DANGEROUS VENUE. Tropical heat + extreme humidity. Canopy covers seats but field fully exposed.

Performance Impact

HEAT (CRITICAL): This is the most climatically dangerous venue in the tournament. WBGT of 27-29°C near-certainly exceeds the FIFPRO 28°C cooling-break threshold. Players from cold and temperate climates will experience:

• ◆Significant reduction in total distance covered (up to 5-8%)
• ◆Impaired cognitive function and decision-making speed
• ◆Increased core body temperature risk (>38.5°C triggers performance degradation)
• ◆Reduced high-intensity sprint capacity in the second half

Teams adapted: CONCACAF nations, African teams, Middle Eastern teams, South American tropical nations Teams most vulnerable: Northern European nations (Norway, Sweden, Scotland, England, Netherlands), East Asian teams (Japan, South Korea)

Stadium Characteristics

• ◆Type: Open-air with partial canopy
• ◆Air Conditioning: No
• ◆Roof: No
• ◆Key concern: CRITICAL HEAT: Near-certain to exceed WBGT 26°C every match. Tropical humidity prevents sweat evaporation. Cold-climate teams severely disadvantaged.

Matches at This Venue

• ◆Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay (2026-06-15)
• ◆Uruguay vs Cape Verde Islands (2026-06-21)
• ◆Scotland vs Brazil (2026-06-24)
• ◆Colombia vs Portugal (2026-06-27)

Source: Esh et al. 2026, "Evidence-Based Guidelines to Protect Player Health and Performance from Environmental Challenges", Sports Medicine (DOI: 10.1007/s40279-026-02398-4)