After the opening round of World Cup group matches, Sky Sports' data shows heat has shaped performance. The hottest fixture was Saudi Arabia‑Uruguay’s 1‑1 draw at Miami Stadium, where the thermometer peaked at 32.9°C. Belgium’s 1‑1 draw with Egypt saw 31°C, and Brazil’s stalemate with Morocco reached 30.9°C. Four of the five warmest games produced three or fewer goals, underscoring the impact of sweltering conditions.

France defied the trend, covering the second‑most distance of any side despite New Jersey’s near‑26°C heat. Bayern winger Michael Olise logged 12.6 km, the tournament’s third‑highest individual total, and sprinted 79 times, the second‑most behind Barcelona’s Raphinha. teammates Adrien Rabiot and Aurélien Tchouaméni also surpassed the 12‑km mark, helping France roll past Senegal 3‑1. Morocco also logged impressive mileage, covering over 12 km despite the 30.9°C heat.

Speed records ignored the heat, with Australia’s Jordan Bos hitting 36.7km/h, the fastest so far. England’s Djed Spence matched that pace at 35.2 km/h in an air‑conditioned venue, supporting a 4‑2 win over Croatia that placed England ninth in distance covered and fifth in sprints. The United States also over‑performed, running 119.9 km in a 4‑1 victory over Paraguay in Los Angeles. The data confirms that disciplined running can offset high temperatures.