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Target USA Cup kicks off during heat wave
Mother Nature is bringing a heat wave to the Target USA Cup in Blaine this week as the largest youth soccer tournament in North America kicks off, drawing thousands of athletes from around the world. FOX 9’s Maury Glover outlines what organizers are doing to make sure everyone stays safe during competition.
BLAINE, Minn. (FOX 9) - Thousands of young soccer players and fans are braving scorching temperatures at the Target USA Cup in Blaine, where organizers are working to keep everyone safe.
Organizers respond to extreme heat at USA Cup
What we know:
The Target USA Cup is the largest youth soccer tournament in North America, drawing athletes from around the world.
This week, the event is facing unusually high temperatures, prompting organizers to take extra precautions.
To help players cope with the heat, games have been shortened by five minutes, and each half now includes a two-minute water break.
Organizers are also using 14 temperature probes to monitor conditions across the 55 fields at the National Sports Center.
"It's not that unusual. This seems to be that week that heat finds us in Minnesota. So we've definitely had it over the past few years. This seems like it's gonna be pretty pervasive throughout the week. So it's something to keep an eye on and manage it," said Jayme Murphy, director of health at the National Sports Center.
Beating the heat
What they're saying:
Brooklyn Iding, a soccer player making her debut at the tournament, said, "It's super fun. And I enjoy it a lot, meeting new people." She added, "It's so hot. Yeah. It's super exhausting but like it's good weather I like it.
Joey Iding, Brooklyn's father, said, "It's a hot time of the year, and you just got to deal with it, but you're out here playing the beautiful game, so it's always a good day to play soccer."
The tournament is not just about the players — organizers are also keeping an eye on hundreds of volunteers and 35,000 spectators each day, all trying to stay cool in the heat.
Precautions for athletes, volunteers and fans
Why you should care:
With 10,000 young athletes participating, organizers are prepared for heat-related issues.
"We've had a handful of athletes come into the clinic, complaining about feeling a little woozy, feeling sick. We always take the temperatures of these athletes. We've seen nothing elevated to this point, but it's reasonable to expect with 10,000 athletes, you're gonna see a handful people come in there with this," said Murphy.
The tournament runs through Saturday, and teams like Brooklyn's from Chicago are pushing through the heat.
Iding scored two goals in her debut and hopes to win the tournament, saying, "I'll be really excited because this is my first time here."
Organizers expect the warm weather to continue and will keep monitoring the situation to ensure everyone’s safety.