Key facts
- The 2026 FIFA World Cup is projected to generate 7.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.
- This carbon footprint is estimated to be more than double that of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
- Travel, particularly flights, is expected to account for 87% of the tournament's emissions.
- The expanded format involves 48 teams and 16 host cities across North America.
- FIFA has pledged to halve its carbon emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2040.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, while anticipated to significantly boost global GDP and consumer spending, is facing scrutiny over its substantial environmental impact. An assessment by Greenly estimates the tournament could generate 7.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, more than double the approximately 3.8 million tons from the Qatar 2022 World Cup. This makes it the most polluting World Cup ever staged, largely due to the vast distances involved in the expanded 48-team, 16-city format across North America.
Academics and campaigners highlight that approximately 87% of the projected emissions will stem from travel, predominantly flights, as teams, fans, and media traverse the continent. The geographical spread, stretching 2,800 miles from Vancouver to Miami, inherently increases the carbon intensity compared to more compact previous tournaments. While no new stadiums were built, the shift in format has increased emissions from travel.
FIFA has committed to sustainability, pledging in 2021 to halve its carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2040. The organization stated it is implementing various environmental initiatives, including the use of existing stadiums, promoting public transport, reducing reliance on diesel generators, and implementing recycling and food waste programs. However, experts like sports ecologist Madeleine Orr and geographer David Gogishvili suggest that FIFA needs greater pressure to prioritize environmental impact reduction, noting that the digital footprint from broadcasting and fan consumption also contributes significantly to emissions, a factor often overlooked in official calculations.