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Dr. Douglas Casa: World Cup and extreme heat

May 28, 2026

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As summer heat intensifies with climate change, so do the risks for players and fans at this year’s World Cup. On May 28, 2026, SciLine interviewed Dr. Douglas Casa, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Connecticut. He discussed topics including:

TV bundle includes:

Soundbite (SOT)
VOSOT script (can be used as-is or modified)
Raw, full-length interview video & log with timecodes (upon request via form below)
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Soundbite (SOT) and pronouncer

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Click for VOSOT script (can be used as-is or modified)

ANCHOR
EXTREME HEAT COULD PUT ATHLETES… FANS… AND WORKERS AT RISK DURING THIS SUMMER’S WORLD CUP MATCHES.

VO
ELEVEN U-S CITIES WILL HOST WORLD CUP MATCHES STARTING THIS MONTH.
DOCTOR DOUGLAS CASA… A KINESIOLOGY PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT… SAYS HIGH TEMPERATURES CAN SLOW ATHLETES DOWN… IMPACT THEIR DECISION-MAKING… AND INCREASE THE RISK OF HEAT STROKE.
HE SAYS FANS AND STADIUM WORKERS NEED TO BE CAREFUL TOO.
IF YOU’RE NOT USED TO SPENDING HOURS IN THE HEAT… YOU CAN GET DEHYDRATED AND START FEELING SICK.
DOCTOR CASA RECOMMENDS DRINKING LOTS OF WATER… SITTING IN SHADED AREAS BEFORE THE GAME AND AT HALFTIME… AND BRINGING COOLING TOWELS TO HELP LOWER BODY TEMPERATURE.
HE SAYS SIMPLE PRECAUTIONS LIKE THIS CAN SAVE LIVES… AND STADIUMS SHOULD PLAY A BIG ROLE IN THAT.

SOT
Duration: 0:27
Super: Dr. Douglas Casa – Professor, University of Connecticut
“Have as many filling stations as humanly possible. That allows people who bring in their water bottles to keep refilling, because you don’t want people to have to buy $10 water bottles for a family of five to drink throughout the day. They might not spend $200 or $300 to have their family stay hydrated. So having the filling stations is, I think, a massive step to make sure people have water when and if they need it.”

VO
FIFA IS ALLOWING MORE BREAKS FOR PLAYERS AND LIMITING MATCHES PLAYED DURING THE HOTTEST PARTS OF THE DAY.
DOCTOR CASA SAYS HE’S KEEPING AN EYE ON GAMES IN MIAMI AND KANSAS CITY… WHERE EXTREME HEAT AND OUTDOOR STADIUMS CREATE THE BIGGEST RISK.
AND EVEN IN CITIES WITH INDOOR VENUES… LIKE HOUSTON… DALLAS… AND ATLANTA… HE SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A PLAN TO STAY COOL WHILE THEY WAIT TO GET INSIDE.

Raw, full-length interview covers:

How extreme heat impacts performance and increases the risk of exertional heat stroke;
What research shows about evidence-based cooling protocols, including cold water immersion, in preventing heat-related deaths;
How fans, particularly older adults, young children, and those with underlying health conditions, face increased risks in crowded, low-shade stadiums, and what venues can do to better protect them; and
What athletes, coaches, and fans can do to stay safe in extreme heat.