The 2026 World Cup is set to become the largest edition of the tournament ever, with 48 teams spread across three North American nations. While the expansion promises more matches and broader participation, it also brings a stark environmental cost that is drawing increasing scrutiny.
Researchers estimate that the event will generate approximately 7.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, a figure that more than doubles the emissions recorded at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. This projection places the tournament among the most polluting sporting spectacles in history.
More than four‑fifths of those emissions stem from air travel, as teams, officials, and fans journey across a continent spanning roughly 2,800 miles from Vancouver to Miami. The sheer distance between host cities makes the competition far more carbon‑intensive than the compact format used in recent editions.
FIFA has pledged to halve its carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve net‑zero status by 2040 under the U.N. Sports for Climate Action Framework, yet it has not set a concrete target for the 2026 tournament itself. The governing body has highlighted measures such as using existing stadiums, promoting public transport, and reducing diesel generator use, but critics argue these steps are insufficient.
The travel burden is especially acute for supporters of England, whose group matches are scheduled in Dallas, Boston and New Jersey, covering a combined distance of 1,721 miles. Such disparities underscore how the geographic spread of the tournament amplifies its environmental footprint.
The travel burden on supporters
Beyond the physical footprint, the digital consumption associated with broadcasting, streaming and multi‑screen viewing adds a significant but often overlooked layer to the event’s carbon profile. The United Kingdom's National Energy System Operator has warned that each of Scotland and England’s group games could increase national electricity demand by 600 megawatts.
Four debutant nations — Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan — will join the tournament, reflecting FIFA’s ambition to broaden global participation. Yet the environmental calculus raises questions about whether the sport can reconcile growth with climate responsibility.
Madeleine Orr, a climate researcher, and David Gogishvili, a sports analyst, have contributed to the data that underpins these concerns. Their work highlights the need for stronger pressure from stakeholders to ensure that sustainability is not an afterthought but a central pillar of mega‑events.