‘Green card for the planet’? Fifa’s World Cup is on pace to be a climate catastrophe
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- FIFA projects the 2026 World Cup will generate about 9 million tons of CO₂e, nearly twice the average emissions of previous tournaments.
- Air travel accounts for roughly 7.7 million tons of CO₂, over four times the average for Cups held between 2010‑2022; the worst‑case estimate for flights could reach 13.7 million tons.
- Host nations (Canada, Mexico, United States) and the expanded 48‑team format force long‑distance travel, making low‑carbon alternatives impractical.
- Gianni Infantino promoted a “green card for the planet” campaign for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, yet that event required more than 1,000 daily flights and energy‑intensive desalination, undermining its carbon‑neutral claim.
- Climate litigators are increasingly pursuing greenwashing cases, and the article warns that FIFA’s environmental record could attract further legal challenges.
Why it matters: Fans and sponsors face higher costs and reputational risk as FIFA’s 9 M‑ton carbon footprint fuels climate lawsuits, while host nations risk backlash and stricter environmental regulations.
