Saturday Round of 16 match between France and Paraguay could be the tournament’s hottest game.A heat wave, which has already caused changes to FIFA’s Fan Festival in Philadelphia, is expected to continue across eastern and central areas of the US through the end of the week. Philadelphia is in the midst of a dangerous heatwaveGettyThe heat index, which includes humidity, is expected to be between 37 C and 46 C (100F – 115F).The France – Paraguay match kicks off at 10pm (5pm local time) on Saturday at Philadelphia Stadium, right in the peak of the heat. Paraguay secured a dramatic win against Germany on penalties in the Round of 32 while France, led by record-breaking Kylian Mbappe are the tournament favorites.FIFA‘s current heat guidelines say any match could be postponed if the wet bulb temperature reaches 32 C (89 F).Temperatures are forecast to be over this mark for Saturday and it could have consequences for the players, officials and fans.Philadelphia Stadium, home of the NFL‘s Philadelphia Eagles has a seating capacity of 67,594, and is uncovered. The venue is expected to be a sell out as America celebrates their 250th birthday.FIFA have previously reserved the matches expected to experience high temperatures for domed stadiums which have air conditioning.“When you’re exerting yourself on a particularly hot day, the likelihood of experiencing heat related illness or even death is much higher.” director of the Heat Lab at the University of California Bahart Venkat told the Associated Press.He also added that heat-induced confusion could also influence a player’s decision-making and determine the match outcome.Mandatory three-minute hydration breaks midway through each half are there to protect the players from extreme heat illness.Philadelphia Stadium is uncovered, making Saturday’s game dangerous for spectators, as well as the players and officialsGettyHydration breaks have been criticised, but they are crucial in avoiding heat illnessGettyHowever, they have come under criticism from players, coaches and fans, saying they interrupt the game’s flow.For Saturday’s match, FIFA say they are proactively taking steps to help fans beat the heat by planning to place cooling tents and making water available.“FIFA is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers and staff through a tiered heat mitigation model,” a FIFA spokesperson told The Philadelphia Inquirer in a statement. “Through close collaboration with the City of Philadelphia, medical experts and emergency authorities, FIFA remains committed to delivering a safe, resilient and memorable tournament experience for everyone involved.”Ultimately however, Saturday’s clash at Philadelphia Stadium may test more than just tactical prowess. Whether Mbappé’s star-studded squad or Paraguay’s resilient underdogs advance to the quarterfinals remains to be seen.French players had to cool off using sprinklers after their Round of 32 match against SwedenGettyThe victor of the Round of 16 clash might simply be the team that survives the brutal American summer best.With the weather pattern set to hang around, more matches will be hit and MetLife Stadium, which will host the final, also doesn’t have a roof.Stay up to date with the World Cup across all our talkSPORT platforms – subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest news, opinion, exclusive interviews and our daily unfiltered, unscripted show ‘The S* Word, from 8am ET