Reece James has issued a World Cup heat warning and confessed it will be “super difficult” for England to triumph in the tournament. James endured blistering 40-degree temperatures last summer when Chelsea claimed the Club World Cup in the United States.
The Chelsea captain also cautioned that the playing surfaces were below par and revealed matches took place during “hot and humid” conditions due to kick-off scheduling. However, James acknowledged this will put England at a significant disadvantage with enormous hurdles for Thomas Tuchel to navigate towards World Cup glory.
The England defender said: “It’s super difficult conditions to play in that heat, especially us playing in England – there’s not anything like that before.
“You feel the heat the minute you step outside the hotel. The conditions are super hot, they are difficult conditions to play in and the pitches when we were there weren’t the greatest either and made it a little bit harder.
“That’s been a key message: that the conditions will be tough in the middle of the summer in America, and everyone is aware of that. We’re trying to prepare as best we can for that.
“Later kick-offs when it’s not so hot and humid, that would definitely help. For sure. That would definitely help.”
Tuchel has already arranged for a warm-weather training camp in Florida, where they are expected to utilise David Beckham’s Inter Miami facilities, alongside two friendlies in the United States. However, these plans could face disruption if England players are involved in the Champions League final on May 30, just 11 days before the World Cup begins.
James is optimistic that warm-weather training next summer could ease the transition, but he also disclosed that he has never been consulted by football’s authorities about his perspective on the challenging heat and conditions players will encounter.
He further added: “No, I haven’t been asked about my thoughts on kick-off times. I’m sure they will have asked someone. Maybe managers or people at the clubs. I’m sure they will have got some feedback.
“Warm-weather training camps would help. We finished last season with not much time. We didn’t have time to go away to warm weather, so it was kind of just: finish the Premier League and go to 40-degree heat.
“There was no real time to adapt where, hopefully this season, going into the World Cup, the team will have the opportunity to be exposed to heat and different climates. That will hopefully help us prepare better.
“Once you are out there you adapt the longer you are there, when you are settled in once place and try to limit the things you can.”