Greenly Sees 2026 World Cup Emitting 7.8 Million Tons of CO2 as Spectator Travel Drives 87%
Updated
Updated · TIME · Jun 3
Greenly Sees 2026 World Cup Emitting 7.8 Million Tons of CO2 as Spectator Travel Drives 87%
1 articles · Updated · TIME · Jun 3
Summary
7.8 million metric tons of CO2 could be generated by the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Greenly estimated, making the 48-team tournament across 16 North American cities a potential record emitter.
87% of that footprint is expected to come from spectator travel, with international fans projected to make up 35% of attendances but 74% of travel-related emissions because of longer trips between venues.
3.1% of emissions are tied to infrastructure in 2026, far below Qatar 2022's 24.6%, because most venues already exist; Greenly also said U.S. hotels are about six times less carbon-intensive than those used in Qatar.
3.8 million metric tons was FIFA's official emissions figure for the 2022 World Cup, which drew criticism over carbon-neutral claims, while FIFA's 2026 sustainability plan still sets no tournament-wide carbon target despite its 2030 and 2040 climate pledges.
Paris 2024 offered a lower-carbon model, Greenly said, arguing mega-events can justify rail, stadium and energy upgrades if organizers treat them as long-term decarbonization projects.
As extreme heat threatens 2026 World Cup matches, are FIFA's safety protocols enough to protect players and fans?
Is the three-nation World Cup model a celebration of unity or an unsustainable relic in a climate crisis?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup’s Massive 9 Million-Tonne Emissions: Climate, Health, and Human Rights at Risk
Overview
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to create an unprecedented carbon footprint due to its vast geographical spread across North America and the extensive travel required for fans and teams. For example, an England fan following their team to the final could travel nearly 15,000 miles, resulting in over 3 tonnes of CO2 emissions per person. These environmental concerns are compounded by health risks from extreme heat during the summer tournament. The report highlights that the scale and structure of the event make it difficult to achieve meaningful sustainability, raising questions about the viability of the current global sports model.