The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the largest in the tournament's history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches across venues in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. However, a new report from researchers at the University of Manchester, Loughborough University, and the University of Bristol warns that it could become one of the most carbon-intensive World Cups ever staged. The warning comes as football faces mounting pressure over its climate footprint and its ties to fossil fuel industries.
Bigger Tournament, Bigger Emissions
One of the major concerns in the report is the scale of the 2026 event. According to FIFA, this will be the first time the competition features 48 teams, compared to 32 in Qatar in 2022, and will consist of 104 matches across 16 host cities. The Qatar 2022 World Cup had 64 matches. Researchers argue that this increase in size is likely to significantly increase its carbon footprint. Millions of supporters, as well as teams, officials, and sponsors, will have to travel vast distances across three different countries and several time zones. Unlike the 2022 World Cup, where venues were tightly clustered in Qatar, the spread of the 2026 World Cup from Vancouver to Mexico City and Miami will have a continental footprint. University of Manchester researchers warn that this combination of larger tournaments and longer journeys could lead to the most carbon-intensive World Cup to date.
Growing Links to Fossil Fuel Interests
The report also delves into the financial structures supporting modern football. It details increased investment from wealthy oil-producing nations and partnerships with fossil fuel companies. A key focus is FIFA's global deal with Saudi energy company Aramco. In April 2024, FIFA announced a four-year global partnership with Aramco covering major tournaments through 2027, including the men's 2026 World Cup and the women's 2027 tournament. Researchers suggest these agreements could embed fossil fuel interests deeper into sport, using the game's cultural reach to normalise polluters. Dr. Oscar Berglund, Senior Lecturer at the University of Bristol, stated that football has become a potent vehicle for what critics call sportswashing, where governments or industries under pressure over environmental, social, and human rights issues turn to sport to enhance their global reputation.
Climate Change Is No Longer a Novelty for Football
Concerns over football's climate impact have been growing for years. Extreme temperatures have become a recurring issue for sporting calendars worldwide. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was moved from its usual summer slot to November to combat the heat. According to the University of Manchester report, sport's governing bodies are trying to adapt to the changing climate rather than address the cause of emissions, pushing ahead with expansion while launching sustainability campaigns. Dr. James Jackson of the University of Manchester noted that football is already seeing effects of climate change through extreme weather, heatwaves, and disruptions affecting players, supporters, and infrastructure. The report also flags concerns over future competitions, including the awarding of the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia.
What Changes Are Being Proposed?
The researchers call for measures to reduce football's environmental impact. Recommendations include restrictions on fossil fuel sponsorships, limits on fossil fuel ownership of clubs, an end to awarding major tournaments to petrostate hosts, and a halt to the continued expansion of international competitions. The report also recommends giving sustainability managers greater influence within football organisations so environmental concerns become part of core decision-making rather than a compliance exercise. Specifically, researchers call for banning fossil fuel sponsorships, preventing fossil fuel companies from owning clubs, ending major tournaments for petrostate hosts, ending the ongoing expansion of international competitions, and empowering sustainability managers to implement environmental policies.
FIFA's Stance
FIFA has argued that major competitions bring development, infrastructure investment, and opportunities for football growth. Whether the 2026 tournament will be the most polluting in history remains to be seen, but its environmental cost is increasingly difficult to ignore as it grows into a vast global enterprise. For fans, the World Cup is a major global event; for climate researchers, it is a test of whether football can scale up without increasing its environmental impact.
