Enzo Fernandez believes Club World Cup matches in intense heat are ‘dangerous'
The Argentina World Cup winner says he felt dizzy during Tuesday's semi-final against Fluminense in New York, which kicked off at 3pm local time and during which the temperature hit 34C.
Advertisement
Extreme weather has been a recurring issue throughout the tournament in the United States and Fernandez hopes lessons are learned before next summer's World Cup is played on the same continent.
Enzo Fernandez is concerned about playing in the heat in America (Mike Egerton/PA)
Fernandez said: 'The truth is, the heat is incredible. The other day I got a little dizzy in the game. I had to throw myself to the ground because I was really dizzy.
'Honestly, playing in that temperature is very dangerous and obviously, for the spectacle, for the people who come to enjoy the stadium, and for the people who watch at home, the speed of the game isn't the same. Everything feels very slow.
'We hope they change the schedule next year so that it's a spectacle and football continues to be enjoyable and attractive.'
Advertisement
Fernandez was speaking ahead of Sunday's final in which Chelsea will play Paris St Germain, also at the MetLife Stadium and also at 3pm, when it is forecasted to be 30C.
Jurgen Klinsmann said players need to adapt to the heat (Joe Giddens/PA)
His comments come after former Germany striker Jurgen Klinsmann, who is now a member of world governing body FIFA's technical study group, defended the scheduling of some games during the hottest parts of the day.
Klinsmann, a World Cup-winner in 1990 who also played in the 1994 tournament in the US, said: 'The heat is difficult. If you play in 90-degree heat then you are going to suffer.
'This has been something completely new and you have to deal with the circumstances. If a World Cup is in Qatar then you have to adapt. Football is about being able to adapt.
Advertisement
'I played in Dallas at 120 degrees and I was dying! But do I go to Qatar like Germany and complain, complain and bring karma – and then go home early?
'The teams here now and the teams here next summer will have to adapt. It's not always nice, especially for European teams, but they will have to adapt.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
10 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
‘He's one of us already' – Chelsea fans in awe of Joao Pedro for what he did to PSG rival in Club World Cup final
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHELSEA fans have already fallen in love with Joao Pedro - and not just for his goals. The £55million newboy has three goals in three games for Chelsea and helped fire them to their Club World Cup triumph. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Cole Palmer was involved in an altercation with Fabian Ruiz with Joao Pedro stepping in 5 Pedro and Ruiz then had their own coming together 5 Pedro stared down the midfielder and did not help him up 5 The striker was involved in a full-time tussle with PSG boss Luis Enrique raising his hands Credit: Reuters 5 Pedro fell to the ground as a result of the melee Credit: AP He scored two stunning goals in the semi-final and netted the third in a 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday. But he has also shown a fiery side and has not been afraid to back up his team-mates. Pedro, who was hit in the face after the final whistle by PSG boss Luis Enrique, also had a confrontation during the match. He rushed over to assist Cole Palmer after he was involved in a coming together with Fabian Ruiz. READ MORE ON CHELSEA OW PEDRO Club World Cup final ends in brawl as Luis Enrique SLAPS Joao Pedro Palmer wound up his opponent with a spectacular phase of play that saw him fall to the ground before getting up and taking the ball past Ruiz. He then sprinted to the byline and with nowhere to go he stopped the ball dead before backheeling it through the humiliated midfielder's legs. Ruiz reacted by shoving Palmer but the England star reacted in kind, before Pedro rushed over to help him out. Moments later Pedro then used his physicality to shove Ruiz to the floor and then stared him down, and Chelsea fans loved it. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS One reacted saying: "Joao Pedro saw the afters between Palmer and Ruiz and decided to make sure he knew Cole wasn't riding solo out here. My man is down for the scrap. He's one of us already." Another added: "Joao Pedro and Cole are rage baiting Fabian Ruiz 🤣🤣" Hilarious moment Trump gets caught inside Chelsea's trophy celebrations as Cole Palmer dances next to beaming Don And a third wrote: "Fabian Ruiz is getting toyed with 😂😂😂 Pedro and Palmer have him crying."
The Sun
10 minutes ago
- The Sun
Club World Cup prize money 2025: How much did Chelsea win after historic triumph in new look tournament?
SOME of the biggest names in football featured in the revamped Club World Cup - and Chelsea came out on top! The tournament now features 32 teams and takes place every four years rather than annually. 3 3 Lionel Messi 's Inter Miami were among some of the HUGE names to compete this summer, with European powerhouses, such as Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and PSG alongside them. Manchester City and Chelsea were the only English sides participating, as both have won the Champions League in the last four years. The Blues ultimately came away victorious from the competition, beating Champions League winners PSG in a smashing 3-0 display. The blockbuster tournament is among the most lucrative and is comparable to the Premier League and the Champions League. SunSport brings you details on the mammoth prize pot that has attracted some of the biggest clubs in the world. Club World Cup prize money 2025 Fifa president Gianni Infantino described the distribution model of the Club World Cup as the "biggest-ever prize money for a football tournament" of its seven-game format. The winning side will earn up to $125million/£97million, which is close to what the Premier League (£176m) and Champions League (£135m) payout to their winners. A colossal total pot of £775m ($1bn) will be shared between the 32 clubs, with a £407m ($525m) participation fee shared based on sporting and commercial criteria, and £368m ($475m) shared based on sporting performance. Fifa is not keeping any revenue made from the huge tournament and it expects to share another £200m ($250m) with clubs as solidarity payments Club World Cup 2025 Guide SOME of the world's biggest clubs are in action at this summer's Club World Cup in the United States! Chelsea are keeping Premier League hopes alive in the big tournament which is on until the final at New Jersey's Metlife Stadium July 13. Though Manchester City have been knocked out by Saudi Pro side Al-Hilal after losing in a 4-3 thriller. Watch EVERY match of the Club World Cup 2025 on DAZN INFO Everything you need to know about the Club World Cup LATEST NEWS & FEATURES Fans think Chelsea have 'scammed our way to the final' Dortmund subs in 'never before seen' act on the bench Jackson to miss last-16 game as ban extended Watch Lionel Messi score incredible free-kick Club World Cup top scorers Club World Cup 2025 prize money breakdown Here is a full breakdown of what each club could earn from every round: *Note: prize money accumulates as a club progresses Group stage (three matches) $2m/£1.4m win or $1m/£746k draw Round of 16 + $7.5m/£5.5m Quarter-final + $13.125m/£9.7m Semi-final + $21.0m/£15.6m Finalist + $30m/£22.3m Winner + $40m/£29.8m 3
The Sun
10 minutes ago
- The Sun
‘He's one of us already' – Chelsea fans in awe of Joao Pedro for what he did to PSG rival in Club World Cup final
CHELSEA fans have already fallen in love with Joao Pedro - and not just for his goals. The £55million newboy has three goals in three games for Chelsea and helped fire them to their Club World Cup triumph. 5 5 5 5 He scored two stunning goals in the semi-final and netted the third in a 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday. But he has also shown a fiery side and has not been afraid to back up his team-mates. Pedro, who was hit in the face after the final whistle by PSG boss Luis Enrique, also had a confrontation during the match. He rushed over to assist Cole Palmer after he was involved in a coming together with Fabian Ruiz. Palmer wound up his opponent with a spectacular phase of play that saw him fall to the ground before getting up and taking the ball past Ruiz. He then sprinted to the byline and with nowhere to go he stopped the ball dead before backheeling it through the humiliated midfielder's legs. Ruiz reacted by shoving Palmer but the England star reacted in kind, before Pedro rushed over to help him out. Moments later Pedro then used his physicality to shove Ruiz to the floor and then stared him down, and Chelsea fans loved it. One reacted saying: "Joao Pedro saw the afters between Palmer and Ruiz and decided to make sure he knew Cole wasn't riding solo out here. My man is down for the scrap. He's one of us already." Another added: "Joao Pedro and Cole are rage baiting Fabian Ruiz 🤣🤣" And a third wrote: "Fabian Ruiz is getting toyed with 😂😂😂 Pedro and Palmer have him crying."
