Key facts
- Climate activists are demanding FIFA and other sports organizations end sponsorships with the oil and gas industry.
- Saudi Aramco, the world's largest corporate carbon emitter, is the exclusive energy sponsor for the current World Cup.
- Protests are scheduled at multiple World Cup stadiums and other major sports venues.
- A group of experts previously argued that fossil fuel sponsorships create a conflict with player welfare.
- FIFA has defended its partnership with Aramco, stating sponsorship revenues support the game.
- The protests coincide with expert warnings about extreme heat impacting the current World Cup tournament.
Climate activists, including former and current professional athletes, are urging FIFA to terminate its sponsorship deal with Saudi Aramco, the energy giant and the world's largest corporate carbon emitter. The campaign highlights concerns that such partnerships promote fossil fuels, contributing to the climate crisis and potentially endangering athletes through extreme weather conditions during events like the World Cup.
Protests are planned at or near four 2026 World Cup stadiums and seven other major sporting arenas. Organizers aim to pressure FIFA and other sports organizations to end their reliance on fossil fuel sponsorships, a practice they label as "sportswashing." David Wheeler, a former professional footballer, emphasized the potential of sports to influence billions and called for FIFA to use its platform for positive change. Brent Suter, a Major League Baseball pitcher, echoed these sentiments, linking the World Cup's global viewership to a shared responsibility for the planet.
Experts have also voiced concerns, with a group of health, climate science, and sports professionals signing an open letter arguing that promoting fossil fuels creates a conflict with player welfare. FIFA has previously defended its partnership with Aramco, stating that sponsorship revenues are reinvested into the game at all levels. Saudi Aramco's CEO has indicated that the sponsorship aims to harness the power of sport for global impact and societal development.
Beyond the World Cup, demonstrations are targeting other sports organizations, including demands for Major League Baseball teams to cut ties with Phillips 66 and Marathon Petroleum, and for a Major League Soccer team to end its sponsorship with Bank of America, a significant financier of fossil fuel projects. These actions come as research indicates that many World Cup host stadiums are experiencing more extreme heat than in previous tournaments, raising further questions about the environmental impact and player safety.