Key facts
- Ukraine claims to have made advances in the Zaporizhzhia region.
- Fighting is concentrated around the village of Robotyne.
- Russia claims to have repelled Ukrainian assaults in the Robotyne area.
- The 2026 FIFA World Cup is projected to have a carbon footprint of 7.8 million metric tons.
- This is more than double the reported emissions of the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
- Spectator travel is expected to account for 87% of the 2026 World Cup's emissions.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be the largest in its history with 48 teams playing 104 matches across North America, is projected to have a significant environmental impact. An independent assessment by Greenly estimates the tournament could generate 7.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, more than double the reported emissions of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This figure is equivalent to the annual emissions of Sierra Leone. According to Greenly co-founder Alexis Normand, the increased scale, number of teams, and travel distances between 16 host cities contribute to the higher emissions. Spectator travel is identified as the largest contributor, expected to account for 87% of the total footprint, with international fans generating 74% of travel-related emissions despite making up 35% of attendance. However, the 2026 World Cup is expected to be less carbon-intensive in certain areas compared to Qatar. The use of existing venues, rather than building new stadiums, reduces infrastructure emissions to 3.1% from 24.6%. Additionally, hotels in North America are considered less carbon-intensive than those in Qatar, which required extensive air conditioning. FIFA has committed to reducing emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2040, but the sustainability strategy for 2026 does not set a specific carbon target for the tournament, particularly concerning spectator travel.