Climate activists are planning protests at World Cup sites and fan zones to protest FIFA's sponsorship deal with Saudi Aramco. Organizers aim to pressure FIFA to drop the oil giant and highlight "sportswashing."
The protests highlight the growing tension between major sporting events and environmental concerns, as activists target lucrative sponsorship deals with fossil fuel companies to pressure for change and raise awareness about climate change.
Climate activists are planning protests at FIFA World Cup sites and fan zones across the country on Sunday, targeting the organization's sponsorship deal with Saudi Aramco. The protests aim to pressure FIFA to drop the state-owned oil and gas giant as a sponsor and draw attention to what organizers call "sportswashing" and the role of fossil fuels in driving climate change.
Organizer Zan Dubin told POLITICO that the demonstrations are intended to highlight how oil company advertising becomes integrated into fans' World Cup experiences, contributing to the problem of rising global temperatures. The primary protest is scheduled to take place outside SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles before the Belgium-Iran match.
This action is an extension of a local campaign, Dodger Fans Against Fossil Fuels, which has garnered nearly 30,000 signatures urging Dodgers owner Mark Walter to end a sponsorship with oil company Phillips 66. FIFA announced Aramco as a major worldwide partner in 2024, securing sponsorship rights for multiple tournaments, including the 2026 Men's World Cup and the 2027 Women's World Cup. This deal has faced opposition from climate and human rights groups, with over 100 professional women's soccer players also calling on FIFA to terminate it. Aramco's branding is prominently displayed in stadiums and during global match broadcasts.
The Los Angeles protest is being organized by a local chapter of the Sierra Club and Third Act SoCal, and is expected to feature street-theater demonstrators from Extinction Rebellion Lamenters. Dubin also indicated that similar protests are planned at fan sites in Miami, New Jersey, Seattle, and Dallas.