The environmental cost of FIFA World Cup events

New Delhi: World’s most popular sports football is also adding to the climate cost as data emerging from the organisation of ‘FIFA World Cup 2026’ show. The event was hosted by three countries-US, Canada and Mexico with millions of fans converging in different cities to watch the event.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says, the event has attracted criticism over its projected environmental footprint, with scientists estimating that it could generate between 9 and 15 million tonnes of CO2.

According to the estimate from Scientists for Global Responsibility + New Weather Institute, there were 9.02 million tonnes CO2 emissions from the various activities related to the event, and these emissions were “roughly double the historical average” of World Cups 2010-2022.

Carbon emissions from Qatar 2022 were estimated at ∼3.6 million tonnes by FIFA. So 2026 was projected at 2x–2.5 times higher.

There were some obvious reasons for the increase in pollution generated by this year’s FIFA World Cup Event

Matches spread across 16 cities in 3 countries covering 21.7 million sq km. Teams had to travel 5,000+ km between group games. The need to travel lead to sharp rise in use of fossil fuels for transport

Up to 87% of total emissions came from travel, chiefly flights, as fans, teams, media criss-crossed the continent.It is estimated that Air transport alone projected at at least 7.7 million tonnes of the total budget

As NC State’s Prof. Casper noted: “Travel-related emissions often exceed those from stadium operations and matchday activities”, and that challenge was “amplified” by 16 host cities across 3 countries.

It is to be noted that FIFA had made a pledge at COP26 to cut its emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2040. But the 2026 expansion to 48 teams meant the tournament was widely described as on track to be the most polluting event in football history and the most polluting World Cup ever staged.

The last world cup held in Qatar was also bad for climate. According to FIFA’s official estimate, Activities related to the 2022 World Cup were projected at 3.6 million metric tons of CO2e. That’s roughly equivalent to the annual energy use of 460,000 homes.

Here is a breakdown of FIFA’s Greenhouse Gas Accounting Report:
– 99.5% of emissions were estimated to occur during the 1-month tournament itself.
– Operational emissions (cooling stadiums, drinks, people, fan travel, accommodation): about 2,712,177 tCO2e.
– Construction of stadiums, hotels, and infrastructure: 888,852 tCO2e.
FIFA’s calculation did _not_ include all air miles travelled by fans, companies, and merchandise.

Football has 265 million players and around 5 billion fans. An assessment by UNEP of more than 100 sports organizations in 48 countries found that while many organizations recognize their responsibility to reduce their environmental impact, they often lack the funding, staff and expertise needed to do so.

The UN body suggests that host cities can integrate tournament preparations into their long-term sustainability strategies, creating benefits that extend well beyond the event itself. It has advised host countries to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure and green public spaces, reduce waste and improve circularity besides making sustainable transport the easiest choice, and engaging communities and build lasting partnerships.
—India News Stream