Introduction
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest geographically in history, featuring 48 teams across Canada, the United States, and Mexico. As FIFA strives for growth, is it overlooking the environmental impact?
Criticism of Environmental Impact
David Gogishvili, a geographer at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, and an expert in large sporting events, told AFP: “While carbon footprints are often reduced at the Olympic Games, it’s precisely the opposite with FIFA’s men’s World Cup.”
The 2026 World Cup will be in stark contrast to the 2022 edition held in Qatar, which was criticized for rapidly constructing climate-controlled and oversized stadiums in a small, extremely hot country.
From Toronto’s 45,000-seat stadium to Texas’ Arlington with nearly 93,000 seats, all 16 venues already existed when the host was chosen. This aspect was particularly highlighted by the “United 2026” bid committee.
However, distances between venues will be vast. Traveling from Vancouver to Mexico, passing through Boston, Miami, and Los Angeles, teams, journalists, and the “more than 5 million fans” expected by FIFA will undertake long journeys, with some distances exceeding 4,000 kilometers between venues.
FIFA’s Growth Ambition
The only official carbon footprint estimate—3.7 million tons of CO2, a record—is contained in the bid and is already outdated since the number of games was increased from 80 to 104.
Since 2018, FIFA has committed to “measure, reduce, and compensate” emissions linked to World Cups. However, in May 2023, FIFA decided to group the group stage into three “regional hubs” due to logistical reasons, while knockout-stage matches—one-third of the total games—will occupy the entire map of host venues.
Beyond the technical debate on carbon calculation and compensation, there’s a consensus: the best way to reduce the impact of large events is to “limit” their scope, as the Olympic Committee does with its limit of 10,500 athletes for summer games, recalls David Gogishvili.
However, FIFA is moving in the opposite direction by expanding from 32 to 48 teams, leading to more games, participants, fans, and flights, entering “an endless cycle,” according to Gogishvili.
Climate Cost of International Matches
In February, New Weather Institute and Scientists for Global Responsibility highlighted in a joint report the climate cost of every international match, which is “26 to 42 times more than an elite league game.”
“A World Cup match is responsible for 44,000 to 72,000 tons of CO2… equivalent to the annual emissions of 31,500 to 51,500 British cars,” these researchers found.
Beyond the technical debate on carbon calculation and compensation, there’s a consensus: the best way to reduce the impact of large events is to “limit” their scope, as the Olympic Committee does with its limit of 10,500 athletes for summer games, recalls David Gogishvili.
However, FIFA is moving in the opposite direction by expanding from 32 to 48 teams, leading to more games, participants, fans, and flights, entering “an endless cycle,” according to Gogishvili.
Future World Cups and Environmental Concerns
In June 2023, a Swiss entity criticized FIFA for boasting about the “climate neutrality” of the 2022 World Cup without evidence. Beyond technical debates, there’s a clear pattern: FIFA seems to be ignoring environmental concerns.
Looking ahead, the 2030 World Cup will span three continents, with three matches in South America (Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay) followed by the rest in Morocco, Spain, and Portugal. The Conmebol proposed increasing participating teams to 64 for the centenary of the tournament in 2030, but Infantino has yet to comment.
The 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia, with a similar climate to Qatar but 40 more matches, is also expected to face environmental controversies. With Aramco, the world’s leading oil company, becoming a significant FIFA sponsor, concerns about the event’s environmental impact are likely to persist.
Key Questions and Answers
- What makes the 2026 World Cup unique? It will be the largest geographically in history, featuring 48 teams across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
- How has FIFA’s growth affected the environment? By expanding from 32 to 48 teams, FIFA is leading to more games, participants, fans, and flights, contributing to an “endless cycle” with significant carbon emissions.
- What are the environmental concerns surrounding future World Cups? The 2030 World Cup’s plan to span three continents and the 2034 edition in Saudi Arabia, with a similar climate to Qatar but 40 more matches, are expected to face environmental controversies.
