England will need to deal with the intense North American heat if they are to finally end their six-decade wait for major tournament glory this summer.

Every major international competition brings its own set of hurdles over the course of the summer months.

From squad selection and managing injuries to tactical planning and travel logistics, countless details must align perfectly for a team to make it to the final stages of a tournament.

This year’s World Cup, being hosted across North America, will pose similar challenges – with the region’s climate adding another demanding factor that players and coaches must prepare for in the coming weeks.

Last year’s FIFA Club World Cup provided an early indication of what teams might face, with sweltering heat and humidity forcing cooling breaks during matches, while sudden thunderstorms led to significant delays in play.

In response, FIFA has confirmed that every match at this summer’s event will feature scheduled drinks breaks 22 minutes into each half. Former England striker Emile Heskey, who played under punishing conditions at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea and again at the 2010 edition in South Africa, believes players cannot underestimate the impact of the environment.

“The heat is something you have to take seriously,” Heskey told FourFourTwo. “We arrived early, and the humidity was the toughest part. It affects your breathing – you have to adjust quickly. In 2010, it wasn’t just the temperature, it was also the altitude and the thinner air.”

He added, “I remember passing the ball and seeing it move unpredictably because the air pressure was different. I thought, ‘What’s going on here?’”

Former England winger Chris Waddle, who represented the Three Lions at two World Cups, also recalled facing challenging conditions, notably during the 1986 tournament in Mexico.

However, he believes Thomas Tuchel’s England should not allow concerns about weather or altitude to dominate their mindset going into the tournament.

“When we played in Mexico in 1986, the altitude was tough, and the grass was the longest I’d ever seen on a pitch,” Waddle recalled.

“People like to say, ‘Football is the same everywhere,’ but it isn’t – you have to adapt. England have never been the best team in hot conditions, while other nations are more accustomed to it, but we still made the semi-finals in Italy in 1990 when it was scorching.”

He continued, “If you let the small things bother you, it all becomes negative. You need to stay positive and remind yourself, ‘We’re a strong team.’”

“There’s no reason why we can’t be competing deep into the tournament. Why not?”

— Chris Flanagan, Senior Staff Writer

— Joe Donnohue, Senior Digital Writer