A crucial World Cup knockout match between France and Paraguay in Philadelphia this Saturday is set to become one of the tournament's hottest, raising serious health concerns for players, tens of thousands of fans, and the wider region.
The fixture coincides with a severe heatwave gripping the eastern and central United States, where peak heat indexes are forecast to reach a dangerous 100 F to 115 F (37.78 C to 46.11 C), according to the National Weather Service. High overnight temperatures are expected to offer little respite, with records potentially being broken.
