Hottest Match-Day Avg
31°C
Mexico 1970 · Noon kick-offs at altitude [↗]
Coolest Match-Day Avg
12°C
South Africa 2010 · Southern winter [↗]
Temp Rise Since 1930
+1.4°C
Host-city average · Berkeley Earth ↗
All-Time Attendance
3.59M
USA 1994 · Still unbroken record [↗]
Average Match-Day Temperature Per Tournament

The average temperature in host cities during World Cup match days, from 1930 to 2022. The rise since the 1970s is unmistakable — a direct consequence of global warming that is now shaping how and where the tournament can be held.

Hottest Tournament
31°C
Mexico 1970 · Noon kick-offs · 2,240m altitude
Coolest Tournament
12°C
South Africa 2010 · Southern Hemisphere winter
Long-term Rise
+1.4°C
Host-city average · 1930 vs 2022 baseline
Match-Day Temperature · All World Cups
Average host-city temperature (°C) during tournament match days. Colour shows heat category. Click any bar for details.
Below 18°C · Cool
18–21°C · Ideal
22–26°C · Warm
27°C+ · Hot / Risk
Artificially cooled
⚠️ The 1970 Mexico tournament required noon kick-offs at 31°C for European television — the first documented heat crisis in World Cup history. Qatar 2022's venues were artificially cooled to 18°C inside, masking an outdoor temperature of 28°C+ and energy consumption equivalent to entire city districts.
Temperature Anomaly Trend · 1930–2022

The temperature anomaly shows how much warmer (or cooler) each World Cup was compared to the 1951–1980 baseline for that host city. The trend line confirms a sustained upward trajectory driven by global climate change.

Warming Trend in Host Cities
Temperature anomaly (°C above/below 1951–1980 baseline) · Berkeley Earth · Each dot = one World Cup
Above baseline
Below/at baseline
Trend line
CO₂ Emissions Change · Bid Year → Tournament Year

How much did each host country's national CO₂ emissions change between the year they won the bid and the year they held the tournament? This measures the "hosting cycle effect" — infrastructure, construction, and energy demand driven by preparation.

−1% or less
Decreased
+1–10%
Low rise
+11–30%
Moderate
+31–60%
High
+61%+
Extreme
CO₂ Change per Host Nation
% change in national CO₂ emissions from bid year to tournament year · Global Carbon Project / Our World in Data · Positive = emissions rose · Negative = fell
Decreased / very low
Moderate (+11–30%)
High (+31–60%)
Extreme (+61%+)
Fan Attendance · All Tournaments

Total fan attendance per tournament. Higher attendance means more travel — a major driver of tournament carbon footprint. The 2026 expansion to 48 teams and 104 matches is projected to attract over 5 million fans.

Tournament Attendance 1930–2026
Total fans attending all matches · 2026 is projected
Source: Statista: FIFA Attendance Records 1930–2022 ↗  ·  FIFA Official Records ↗ · 2026 figure is a projection based on expanded 48-team format
Sources: Statista: FIFA World Cup Spectators 1930–2022 ↗  ·  US Soccer: 1994 FIFA World Cup Official History ↗  ·  2026 attendance is a projection based on the expanded 48-team, 104-match format.
Country Deep Dive

Select any host nation to see all their World Cup editions side by side — including countries that hosted twice like Mexico (1970 & 1986) and Brazil (1950 & 2014).

Select Host:
⚠️

Data note: CO₂ figures show % change in national emissions from bid announcement year to tournament year (Global Carbon Project / Our World in Data ↗, Friedlingstein et al. 2023 ↗, 2023 release). Temperature anomalies are vs. 1951–1980 baseline per host city (Berkeley Earth, 2024 ↗). Attendance = Statista: FIFA Attendance Records ↗. Cross-reference: Global Carbon Atlas ↗. Full sources →