The 2026 World Cup is heating up! I’ve spent much of my life on the soccer pitch, playing and coaching games, and I love watching our country rally around the sport I love.
But still, I worry about how global warming is changing soccer for today’s young athletes. Over the last 20 years, I’ve played games in everything from blizzards to 110 degree heat—and I don’t recommend those extremes. But unfortunately, severe weather is becoming more common and more dangerous not only for soccer but for all sports.
That’s why Moms are speaking out today for stronger climate protections when it comes to kids in sports.
Tell Congress: Protect Youth Athletes From Extreme Heat and Dirty Air
This year’s World Cup games are being played in notoriously hot cities, like Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and Miami. Thankfully, FIFA is finally starting to take steps to manage and prevent heat illness among its athletes, from water breaks to climate-controlled benches. This feels like progress and telegraphs to the world how serious climate warming is.
But we know this progress is not enough. Extreme heat is deadly on its own. But it also leads to spikes in harmful air pollution, which can cause shortness of breath, asthma attacks, lung irritation, and chest pain. I have asthma, so I know.
Ultimately, we need to ensure heat and air quality safety guidance becomes standard across all levels of the game to keep our kids healthy and protected. That’s where Congress comes in.
Congress can establish guidelines that protect every player in every setting. They can fund air quality monitoring near sportsplexes, particularly those near polluting highways, industrial facilities, and airports. They can invest in air filtration and air conditioning in schools and indoor sports venues to reduce indoor air pollution and asthma risk.
Make time today to urge your lawmakers to keep children playing sports, safe from high temps and dirty air.
Tell Congress: Protect Youth Athletes From Extreme Heat and Dirty Air