Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has voiced strong concerns about the "dangerous" heat at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, ahead of the final against Paris Saint-Germain. The inaugural 32-team tournament, which culminates on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, has sparked debate regarding player welfare due to the soaring temperatures.

Fernandez revealed that he felt dizzy during Chelsea's semi-final match against Fluminense, which took place at 3 p.m. local time in New Jersey, where temperatures exceeded 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) with high humidity. This prompted a National Weather Service warning. "Honestly, the heat is incredible," Fernandez said. "The other day I had to lie down on the ground because I was really dizzy. Playing in this temperature is very dangerous, it's very dangerous".

The Argentine international emphasized that the heat impacts not only the players but also the fans in the stadium and those watching at home. He noted that the pace of the game slows down significantly, affecting the overall spectacle. "The game, the speed of the game is not the same, everything becomes very slow," he stated.

Fernandez, a 2022 World Cup winner, hopes that FIFA will adjust the schedule for future tournaments to avoid afternoon kickoffs in extreme heat. "Well, let's hope that next year they change the schedule, at least so that it remains a beautiful and attractive football spectacle, right?" he added. He suggested avoiding afternoon kickoffs at the 2026 World Cup to ensure player safety and maintain the quality of the game.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca had previously complained about the heat, stating that it was "impossible" to conduct regular afternoon training sessions in Philadelphia. Chelsea center-back Levi Colwill acknowledged the challenging conditions, saying, "Some places have been really hot, the last round was hot and I was stuck watching it and I was thinking: 'wow, this is so tough.' I felt bad for them but they managed it really well".

Looking ahead to the final, forecasts predict temperatures around 83 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius) with humidity making it feel like 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius). Chelsea captain Reece James admitted the conditions are tough but believes the team is adapting. "The game will be harder for the team that don't have the ball,” James said. “I think we've played in it a fair amount now, so I'd say we're slowly, slowly getting used to it".

Despite the challenges, Fernandez affirmed the importance of the Club World Cup title for Chelsea. "This title is very important for the club," he said. "It's very important to play for the best clubs in the world and we believe it's a great title for the club. We'll try to prepare for the match in the best way possible".