El Niño Likely to Influence Weather During 2026 World Cup Across North America
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, coincides with a high likelihood of El Niño conditions developing. According to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, there is an 82% chance of El Niño emerging during the May-July 2026 period, with this probability increasing to 96% for December 2026-February 2027. El Niño, characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, typically impacts global weather patterns, though its effects are generally weaker during the Northern Hemisphere summer. NOAA has already forecasted a below-normal Atlantic hurricane season for 2026, partially attributed to the developing El Niño. However, the direct impact of El Niño on match-day weather conditions, such as heat or storms, remains uncertain and would require local attribution. 
