PHILADELPHIA \u2014 On the nation\u2019s 250th anniversary, in the city where the United States was born, it was fitting that the weather for France\u2019s Round of 16 showdown with Paraguay could be easily summed up by a line from the tune \u201cSit Down, John\u201d from the Broadway play \u201c1776.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hot as hell in Philadelphia!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Temperatures were expected to hit highs around 100 degrees<\/a> Saturday, and it had already reached 99 degrees two hours before kickoff at Lincoln Financial Field. <\/p>\n There had been some concern ahead of the match that the extreme heat that was smothering the East Coast would impact the start time of the match, but the weather didn\u2019t stop the large and enthusiastic French contingent that made their way to the City of Brotherly Love.\u00a0<\/p>\n Juan Jose Caceres of Paraguay and Kylian Mbappe of France interact during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Paraguay and France at Philadelphia Stadium on July 4, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. FIFA via Getty Images<\/p>\n Saturday\u2019s match is expected to end up being one of the hottest World Cup matches in the tournament\u2019s history.\u00a0<\/p>\n The extreme heat wasn\u2019t too much of a shock to French manager Didier Deschamps, who had been in the United States for the Club World Cup last summer. The Club World Cup had several matches impacted by weather conditions, which included extreme heat that traditionally hits in the summer months.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI was with [France assistant coach] Guy Stephan at the final and semifinal of the Club World Cup,\u201d Deschamps said Friday ahead of the match. \u201cWe were in the stadium. We saw that it was quite hot, and we could discuss. And it did have an impact. Now, is this good for the players\u2019 health as soon as there are extreme conditions, whether it\u2019s heat or cold or a hard pitch? It\u2019s not ideal. But we didn\u2019t choose, so we adapt and we anticipate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Smoke forming the national flag of the United States is seen during the ceremony for the Fourth of July before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Paraguay and France at Lincoln Financial Field. Getty Images<\/p>\n Saturday\u2019s extreme temperatures were what health professionals had warned FIFA about months ahead of the start of the World Cup, and that had made headlines last summer during the Club World Cup over concerns about player safety during the summer months in North America.\u00a0<\/p>\n In May, a collection of medical professionals wrote an open letter to FIFA urging the sport\u2019s governing body to \u201cadopt heat-management protocols that prioritize prevention over response.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n French forward D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Dou\u00e9 acknowledged that the heat is a big factor, especially when it\u2019s reaching the temperatures that it did Saturday. <\/p>\n Dou\u00e9 noted that both France and Paraguay had to play in the same conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n Jean-Philippe Mateta of France warms up prior the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Paraguay and France at Lincoln Financial Field. Anadolu via Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cWell, yes, we are wasting a lot of energy,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are sweating more, wasting more water. We might lose some lucidity on the pitch. We arrived in the U.S. It was hot. Today, it\u2019s hotter. And so be it tomorrow. Both teams will experience the same conditions, and we are fully ready for this game.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Every match of the FIFA World Cup will air on either FOX or FOX Sports 1. If you don\u2019t have cable, you can take advantage of a DIRECTV free trial<\/a> to stream it all.<\/p>\n