WORLD CUP 2026: a World Cup we can't ignore

The men's FIFA World Cup kicks off in a matter of weeks. Football’s greatest stage is once again being used as a billboard for the world’s biggest polluters and comes with a climate reckoning.

This tournament is set to be the most climate-polluting World Cup ever. Players and fans face exposure to dangerous heat conditions at several host cities. And towering over it all is Saudi Aramco, the world's largest polluter, as the ‘Major Worldwide Partner’ for FIFA, turning this festival of football into a fossil fuel love-in.

The conversation can't be avoided. So here's everything you need to engage with it in the weeks ahead and once the tournament kicks off. 

Background and briefings

Our flagship report, FIFA's Climate Blind Spot, sets out why this World Cup matters for the climate debate with a first-of-its-kind comprehensive emissions estimate for the tournament and future World Cups. Read it here. And check out our own Freddie Daley discussing the report on France24 here. 

We've also produced The Hot Six city-by-city climate guide for each of the World Cup's most exposed host cities, covering heat risk, air quality, and what it means for players and fans on the ground. Explore the guides.

We have launched a media briefing specifically for journalists and broadcasters covering the upcoming World Cup. It outlines the stats and facts about the tournament’s emissions, expected climate impacts and the fan and player experience. You can read it here. 

Scientists and players speak out

Leading international health scientists have written an open letter to FIFA calling out the dangers of staging matches in extreme heat and demanding the organisation take polluter sponsorship seriously. Read the letter and the BBC's coverage of it.

Professional players have also responded to the threats posed by extreme heat, adding their voices to the health experts' call. Read the players' letter, the BBC's report, and the Independent’s coverage. 

Watch

Love Football. Hate Pollution. our short film making the case for a World Cup that doesn't cost the earth. Watch it here.

Our Heat, Hype and High Stakes media briefing session was recorded and you can watch it back here.

Listen

Our friends over at Pledgeball have a great podcast on the World Cup. 

And so does the wonderful Claire Poole of Sports Positive on The Climate of Sport podcast.