2026 World Cup Expansion Sparks Climate Concerns

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams playing in US, Canadian, and Mexican stadiums in a record-breaking growth in the competition. Although this growth will bring in money to more than US$10 billion, it has huge environmental costs and massive expansion in air travel with its accompanying carbon footprint.

Estimates are that the larger tournament will produce more than 9 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent—almost twice the emissions of the previous four World Cups. Almost all of those emissions will be from the long-distance flights that supporters, players, and media members make to and from the scattered host cities.

Climate scientists and green activists refer to the paradox of global sports: growing commercial success versus growing climate responsibility. This is reflected in other growing sports tournaments, such as NCAA's March Madness men's and women's basketball tournaments, which can similarly expand to accommodate costs and revenue-sharing deals.

FIFA and the other sporting bodies have committed to reducing their climate footprints and have joined global climate action agreements. But the commitments, according to the critics, are not sufficient. FIFA's "carbon-neutral" 2022 World Cup in Qatar was questioned by the Europeans and fought by the Swiss Fairness Commission because there was not enough evidence.

The vast majority of emissions associated with international sports events result from aviation. For instance, NCAA reports showed that 80% of the tournament's emissions are a result of travel, even where teams were split regionally in the early phases. Talking of World Cup, fans tend to travel across continents to watch their teams; over 840,000 overseas tourists attended the 2018 Russia World Cup.

Radical measures—such as limiting sports events or limiting spectator numbers—are regarded as unrealistic. Expansion in fields such as women's sport also generates growing involvement and movement, adding to carbon footprint. Measures can be taken by promoters to minimize effects: the use of electric transport, the promotion of sustainable accommodation, local food provision, and carbon offsetting encouragement.

Ultimately, a green world sport future depends upon genuine commitment from spectators and authorities alike to embrace ecologically sound approaches without sacrificing the thrill and economic benefits of mega-events.

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First published by The Conversation on Phys.org