While Paris Saint-Germain may have opened their Club World Cup journey with a convincing 4-0 win, it wasn’t all sunshine and celebration for the French giants—especially not in the literal sense.

Sunday’s match against Atletico Madrid took place in sweltering heat at California’s iconic Rose Bowl, and the conditions left the players absolutely drained.

Kicking Off Under the Midday Sun

The match was scheduled for midday in Pasadena, Los Angeles—a time that worked well for European fans tuning in back home, but not so much for the players.

With the temperature pushing close to 40°C and humidity levels hovering around 60%, it became more a test of endurance than football finesse.

Despite the brutal heat, PSG still managed to deliver a statement win.

Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Senny Mayulu, and Kang-In Lee all found the back of the net, with Atletico Madrid reduced to 10 men after Clement Lenglet saw red.

Luis Enrique Calls Out Tough Conditions

After the game, PSG boss Luis Enrique didn’t mince words about how the conditions affected play.

“The match was clearly influenced by the temperature,” he said.

“Yes, the time slot is great for viewers in Europe, but for the players, it’s really hard.

You just can’t expect top-level performances for a full 90 minutes in this kind of heat.”

It was a fair point—while fans may have enjoyed the convenience of the midday kick-off, the players were battling more than just each other on the pitch.

Vitinha: “I’m All Red Out There!”

Midfielder Vitinha, who also scored in the match, echoed his coach’s thoughts.

“Of course, it’s difficult—it’s hard for both teams,” he said. “Maybe even tougher for Atletico since they didn’t have the ball as much.

But honestly, even for us, it’s a challenge. I’m all red out there, it was really difficult.”

He emphasized how important recovery would be moving forward, especially with the tournament just beginning.

“At this point in the season, everything matters. We need to rest up because it could be decisive.”

Heat Takes the Spotlight Despite Big Win

So while PSG’s performance on paper looked dominant, it was the punishing conditions that stole much of the post-match conversation.

The win may have set the tone for their Club World Cup run, but it also raised serious questions about scheduling—and whether kick-off times are favoring fans at the expense of player safety.