Takeaways

• The 2026 FIFA World Cup is projected to generate about 7.8 million metric tons of CO₂, nearly double that of Qatar in 2022.
• Long-distance travel across the US, Canada, and Mexico is driving most of the World Cup emissions.
• Critics say the current FIFA sustainability strategy overlooks key impacts, especially digital carbon use.

The FIFA sustainability strategy is under intense global scrutiny as new estimates suggest that the upcoming tournament in North America could produce record-breaking emissions. According to a recent assessment by carbon accounting platform Greenly, the 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup may generate around 7.8 million metric tons of CO₂, almost twice the footprint of the Qatar 2022 tournament.

This sharp increase highlights growing concerns over World Cup emissions, which now rival the annual output of entire countries such as Sierra Leone or the emissions of roughly 1.7 million cars. The expansion to 48 teams and matches spread across 16 cities in three countries: The United States, Canada, and Mexico, has significantly widened the tournament’s carbon footprint.

A key driver of the rise is the aviation emissions generated through constant international and domestic travel. Researchers estimate that nearly 87% of total emissions will come from transportation alone. Unlike previous editions hosted within a single compact country, teams, officials, media crews, and fans will now traverse up to 2,800 miles between venues.

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Experts argue that the geography of the tournament is structurally carbon-intensive. As one researcher noted, increasing teams while stretching venues across a continent inevitably multiplies travel-related emissions, even if stadium construction impacts are reduced.

While sports sustainability efforts have been introduced, including the use of existing stadiums, public transport promotion, and waste management systems, critics say these measures only address a fraction of the problem. The governing body, FIFA, maintains that it is committed to reducing environmental impact through its broader sustainability and human rights framework. However, environmental experts remain unconvinced about its effectiveness at this scale.

Another growing concern is the overlooked digital carbon footprint sports generate. Streaming services, broadcasting systems, fantasy leagues, and betting platforms require vast energy use across data centres and networks. Analysts warn that this invisible layer of consumption could be substantial, especially as fans increasingly watch matches on multiple devices simultaneously.

Energy demand spikes during matches are expected to be significant, with some estimates suggesting that individual games could add hundreds of megawatts to national grids. Yet, these digital emissions are not included in FIFA’s official calculations, leaving a major gap in the overall assessment of the tournament’s climate impact.

Taken together, the surge in carbon footprint football emissions is raising difficult questions about the credibility of the FIFA sustainability strategy. Experts argue that without accounting for both travel and digital consumption, current reporting frameworks underestimate the true environmental cost of global sporting events.

Also Read: Understanding Carbon Accounting: A Practical Guide for 2025

For policymakers, investors, and sponsors, the 2026 World Cup represents a critical test case. As scrutiny intensifies, pressure is mounting on FIFA to align its sustainability commitments with measurable reductions in emissions, rather than relying on partial mitigation efforts.

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Source: ESG NEWS