The upcoming FIFA Men World Cup 2026 is set to become the most polluting edition in the tournament’s 95-year history, according to a new study that raises red flags over its staggering carbon footprint and exposure to extreme climate risks. As the tournament expands across three countries Canada, Mexico, and the United States with 104 matches and 48 teams, researchers warn of over nine million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emissions, almost double the average from previous editions held between 2010 and 2022.
The findings released by Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR), Environmental Defence Fund and Cool Down, indicate that the majority of emissions will be driven by intercontinental air travel, energy-intensive stadium operations, and the vast scale of the multi-nation event. But climate activists are particularly alarmed by FIFA new global sponsorship with Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco a deal projected to be responsible for an additional 30 million tonnes of CO₂e emissions linked to the company’s sales and promotions during the tournament year.
Beyond emissions, the 2026 World Cup also faces rising threats from climate-related heat stress at several of its 16 venues. Six stadiums are flagged for high-risk conditions, with four facing potentially life-threatening heat levels. AT&T Stadium in Dallas, for instance, regularly witnesses over 35°C temperatures and a July Wet Bulb Globe Temperature nearing critical limits for human endurance. In Houston, NRG Stadium sits at the intersection of high heat, flood risks, and wildfire exposure a climate triple threat that experts say could overwhelm infrastructure and jeopardize safety.
Similar risks loom over Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium and Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, both of which may contend with dangerous air quality and hurricane-season flooding, respectively. Scientists stress that without urgent environmental adaptations such as cooling technologies, emergency medical support, and low-emission transportation planning the tournament could trigger a serious public health crisis.
While FIFA has previously claimed climate neutrality goals and purchased carbon credits, the report criticizes these measures as insufficient and opaque. The study underscores how FIFA decisions from expanding tournament formats to partnering with high-carbon industries reflect a “climate blind spot” that contradicts its public environmental commitments.
The environmental toll may not stop with 2026. The 2030 World Cup will be hosted across six countries spanning three continents including Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay raising further concerns over travel-related emissions. Meanwhile, the 2034 edition will be hosted by Saudi Arabia, and is already estimated to add 8.6 million tonnes of CO₂e.
Lead researcher Dr. Stuart Parkinson urged the football governing body to act decisively: “FIFA must take responsibility for its growing role in the climate crisis. With the climate emergency deepening, continuing with business-as-usual mega-events is no longer an option.”
The report concludes with a call for a reimagined model of international sports tournaments one that reduces travel distances, limits sponsorships with polluting industries, and centers player and spectator safety in a warming world. With billions of fans watching and a global platform at stake, the 2026 FIFA World Cup stands as a test not just of sporting excellence, but of climate accountability on the world stage.