US authorities issue maximum heat alert for Paraguay vs France

The match between Paraguay and France, this Saturday (4), at 6pm (Brasília time), at Lincoln Financial Field, in Philadelphia, will be played under weather conditions that worry authorities and teams. The United States National Weather Service (NWS) issued a level 4 alert for extreme heat in the region, the highest on the scale, precisely for the day of the confrontation.

The forecast indicates temperatures above 36°C in the afternoon, with a thermal sensation close to 40° at departure time. The warning also highlights the high risk for anyone exposed to heat for long periods, especially during intense physical activities.

In addition to high temperatures, the forecast indicates the possibility of rain and electrical discharges. If there is lightning in the vicinity of the stadium, the protocol adopted in the United States determines the interruption of the match until conditions are considered safe. This was what happened in the duel between France and Iraq, still in the group stage, when the game was stopped for around an hour and a half.

The topic was included in the preparation of the French team. Striker Bradley Barcola admitted that the heat is likely to increase player wear, although the team is already better adapted to the conditions found in the United States.

"It's going to tire us out a little more, for sure, but we're starting to get used to the heat here. We're staying very hydrated. It will be a little complicated, but not too big either," he said.

France is concentrated in Boston, a city that has also faced high temperatures in recent days. Still, the heat is expected to be even more intense in Philadelphia, where the French and Paraguayans are competing for a place in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

Without Germany, Brazil remains at the top of the list of World Cup champions

Source: CNN