Estonian footballer Alex Meinhard: Playing in US heat is a harsh experience

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held across three North American countries, with the US hosting the majority of matches. Estonian footballer Alex Meinhard, who has lived and played in the US college soccer league, shares his experiences about American heat and football culture.

The ongoing FIFA World Cup is split across three North American countries, but the US is clearly the largest among the host nations, with most matches and the tournament's prestige concentrated there. Whether Americans themselves value the game and the World Cup sufficiently is a question that has remained open for many for years.

Estonian footballer Alex Meinhard, who has spent several years in the United States and played in American college soccer leagues, knows the subject firsthand. "It's certainly harsh. And if a thunderstorm comes, then the match is done for a long time," Meinhard describes the match interruptions that come with American summer weather.

Heat and thunderstorms disrupt play

In US southern states, where temperatures often rise above 35 degrees Celsius, football is a physically demanding undertaking. On the pitch, players must adapt to both high humidity and the fact that if there is a lightning threat, the referee must stop the match immediately-this is mandatory under the rules. Meinhard says that such an environment requires a long period of adjustment.

In the United States, football is called soccer to distinguish it from American football. While attitudes toward the sport have changed and MLS popularity has grown, according to Meinhard, for Americans this game remains secondary compared to American football, basketball, and baseball.

World Cup brings a new wave to America

At the same time, the World Cup is something different in its scale. The tournament offers an opportunity for even those Americans who do not normally take much interest in soccer to experience a festival-like sporting event. Meinhard's experiences in the college league have given him insight into how American football culture works and what the World Cup might mean there.