FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026 will be most polluting ever and promote oil giant Aramco - new research
The 2026 World Cup is set to take place across the United States of America, Canada and Mexico. Research published by the New Weather Institute reveals it is on track to become the most climate-damaging World Cup in the tournament’s 95-year history.
The research finds that the 2026 World Cup will generate over 9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e), a level of emissions equivalent to nearly 6.5 million average British cars being driven for an entire year. FIFA’s sponsorship deal with Aramco, the Saudi oil company, could also induce an additional 30 million tonnes of CO2e in 2026 alone through sales linked to promotion of the company.
The report, FIFA’s Climate Blind Spot - the Men’s World Cup in a Warming World, researched by Scientists for Global Responsibility in collaboration with the Environmental Defense Fund, and Cool Down - the Sport for Climate Action Network, calculated the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions attributable to the 2026 tournament, including the amount of air travel required for fans and teams, and other match-related emissions. It also estimated the GHG emissions induced by high-carbon sponsorship deals.
The 2026 total is almost double the historical average attributable to World Cup Finals tournaments from 2010-2022. The 2026 figures are driven by a high reliance on air travel and significant increase in the quantity of matches - up from 64 to 104 - due to FIFA expanding the tournament from 32 teams to 48.
Samran Ali, from the Environmental Defense Fund, said:
“The World Cup unites us around a shared love of the game—but it also carries a heavy carbon bill. That cost isn’t abstract: from rising temperatures to stronger storms, it’s felt by communities already facing the consequences of climate change. For events of this scale, environmental responsibility cannot be an afterthought. We need transparent accounting and real emissions cuts—backed by binding standards, credible limits, and partnerships that reflect serious climate ambition.”
There are also urgent safety concerns over FIFA’s ability to protect players and fans at the tournament. According to the climate emergency risk assessment led by the Environmental Defense Fund, both fans and players can expect to experience extreme heat stress and extreme weather events.
The authors found that six of the 16 2026 World Cup stadiums face extreme heat stress. The AT&T Stadium in Dallas experiences 37 days a year above 95°F (35°C) with a July wet bulb temperature of 83.5°F (28.6°C), which exceeds FIFA safety thresholds. Half (8 out of 16) of the stadiums require immediate environmental intervention to prevent harm to players and fans alike.
Future World Cup tournaments, such as the Spain-led 2030 Finals and the controversial 2034 tournament to be held in Saudi Arabia, are also expected to be highly polluting due to the high reliance on air travel and the construction of new stadiums.
Plus, if the emissions attributable to FIFA’s sponsorship deals are taken into account, the total climate impact of future World Cups rises dramatically. FIFA recently entered into a high-profile commercial partnership with Aramco. The Saudi Arabian state-owned oil company is the largest oil company on the planet in terms of both historical and current emissions. The emissions induced by this sponsorship deal are estimated to be approximately 29,950,000 tCO2e.
Andrew Simms, from Cool Down - the Sport for Climate Action Network, said:
“Football can inspire global action on climate change in the way it has challenged racism, sexism and other prejudices - but only if FIFA stops hiring out the global game as a billboard promoting the very polluters who are heating the planet. Football’s custodians are currently betraying fans, players and the sport’s future by hosting the most polluting World Cup in the tournament’s 95-year history. Almost unimaginably, in partnering with the world’s biggest oil company FIFA has found a sports’ sponsor worse than tobacco.”