The 2026 World Cup in North America is set to produce 7.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, more than double the emissions of the 2022 tournament in Qatar. According to a new assessment by carbon accounting platform Greenly, the expanded 48-team format across three countries and 16 cities will make it the most polluting World Cup ever staged.
Researchers estimate 87% of emissions will come from air travel as teams, fans, and media crisscross a continent spanning 2,800 miles from Vancouver to Miami. The compact Qatar event, criticized for building seven new stadiums, produced roughly 3.8 million tons.
England and its fans face the heaviest travel burden among tournament favorites, with three group games in Dallas, Boston, and New Jersey covering 1,721 miles.
At COP26 in 2021, FIFA pledged to halve its carbon emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2040. However, FIFA has not set a specific carbon target for the World Cup. The governing body said it welcomed scrutiny and pointed to initiatives like using existing stadiums and encouraging public transport.
University of Lausanne geographer David Gogishvili compared FIFA unfavorably to the International Olympic Committee, which is following its reduction targets. “FIFA clearly does not prioritize reduction of its negative environmental influence,” he said, calling for pressure from media, players, and governments.
Sports ecologist Madeleine Orr highlighted another overlooked source: the digital ecosystem. Broadcasting, streaming, and betting platforms require enormous energy, with the UK’s National Energy System Operator estimating each group game for Scotland or England could spike national electricity demand by 600 megawatts.