2026 FIFA World Cup projected to have highest climate emissions in tournament history due to air travel across three host nations
By
Mattias Goldmann
Summary
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, is projected to be the most climate-polluting tournament in history, with greenhouse gas emissions estimated at 9 million tons of CO2 equivalent—nearly double the historical average. The vast majority of emissions (at least 7.7 million tons) come from air travel due to the tournament's unprecedented geographic spread across three countries. Researchers from Scientists for Global Responsibility, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the sports initiative Cool Down highlight that this World Cup is both the highest contributor to climate change and the most impacted by it. The article also explores positive examples of how football/soccer can adopt greener practices.
Source
bsky2026 FIFA World Cup projected to have highest climate emissions in tournament history due to air travel across three host nationsforbes.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledThe 2026 World Cup will be the 'most polluting' ever, with greenhouse gas emissions of 9m tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, almost double the historical average.
Most is from air travel with at least 7.7 million tons – worst case predictions are almost twice that at 13.7 million tons of CO2.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will go down in history as the tournament with the highest climate impact – and the one the most impacted by climate change.
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