This is The Guardian.

Hi, Podfans, Max, here.

You're just about to hear an episode of Science Weekly recorded especially for us by their team.

They are answering questions on how the extreme heat will affect players, the climate impact of the World Cup, and even the psychology of VAR.

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you should definitely go and subscribe to the excellent Science Weekly podcast available wherever you listen to this.

It's just a week until the first whistle blows at the 26 World Cup in North America and Mexico.

Temperatures are set to be sweltering and a group of scientists is raising the alarm about the impact

on players and the quality of the game. Heat is also on FIFA as campaigners call out their

fossil fuel sponsorship. Is it another own goal for their climate strategy?

And spare a thought for the refs.

On top of the climate, they're having to deal with a stepped-up VAR system this year.

How will it impact their decisions?

Our football team. Our Football Weekly colleagues asked us to look into the Science of the World Cup, and, well, how could we refuse?

From The Guardian, I'm Madeleine Finley, and this is Science Weekly. Ian, thank you for joining me at this very special Football Weekly Science Weekly

Co-Lab. Now, we're starting with something that might not be too familiar to the English

and Scottish teams at least playing in the heat. And this is actually something that might not be too familiar to the English and Scottish teams at least playing in

the heat. And this is actually something that's also got scientists worried. What are their

concerns? Well, the predictions are that this could be the hottest World Cup ever,

or if not one of the hottest World Cups ever. And that has prompted a group of

doctors and scientists to write an open letter to FIFA because they're really concerned about

the potential for harm to players and even match officials, the referees. I spoke to Dr. Oliver Gibson.

...