Juventus manager Igor Tudor has revealed that ten of his players requested to be substituted during their 1-0 loss to Real Madrid in the Club World Cup last-16 clash in Miami.

With temperatures soaring to 30°C and humidity peaking at 70%, the conditions at the Hard Rock Stadium proved too much for many of the players on the pitch. Despite using the maximum five substitutions allowed in regulation time, Tudor admitted the heat was overwhelming for the majority of his squad.

“In the end, 10 players asked to be substituted,” said Tudor post-match. “The exhaustion was incredible.”

“There’s the tension of this match, which burns your energy. Then there’s this heat, which really gets to you, and the third thing that completes the conditions is playing in this humidity.”

This isn’t the first match where extreme weather has affected player performance. The United States’ record-breaking summer heat has become a serious issue during the tournament, prompting concerns across teams and management.

Borussia Dortmund boss Niko Kovac said he was “sweating like I’ve just come out of a sauna” following their win over Mamelodi Sundowns in Cincinnati. Meanwhile, Benfica’s clash with Bayern Munich in Charlotte, North Carolina was played in a stifling 36°C.

In Philadelphia, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said it was “impossible” to hold regular training due to a “code red” heat warning issued by local authorities.

FIFA currently mandates cooling breaks once the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) – a combined measure of temperature and humidity – exceeds 32°C. These breaks have already been enforced in 33 of the 56 matches played so far.

But global players’ union Fifpro is pushing for change. They recommend breaks be introduced at 28°C WBGT, and that matches should be postponed entirely if conditions surpass 32°C.

With the 2026 World Cup set to be hosted in the United States, concerns about player safety in extreme heat are intensifying.

Experts are now urging FIFA to rethink scheduling. A leading specialist on heat stress told BBC Sport that if similar conditions arise next summer, the final of the World Cup should be held at 9am local time to protect players and fans.

While morning kick-offs may be inconvenient for global broadcasters, the idea is gaining traction due to increasing evidence of the dangers posed by extreme heat in elite sport.

With health, performance, and fairness on the line, pressure is mounting for football’s governing bodies to adapt more quickly to a warming planet.