Study: 2026 World Cup to break pollution records

The 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America is projected to become the most environmentally damaging tournament in history, according to groundbreaking research by environmental organizations.

Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) has conducted a comprehensive analysis of the expanded 48-team tournament's carbon footprint, revealing alarming findings:

• Estimated emissions exceeding 9 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
• Nearly double the average of the last four World Cups
• Significantly higher than Qatar 2022's estimated 5.25 million tonnes

The report, published in collaboration with leading environmental groups, equates this impact to:

"6.5 million average British cars being driven for an entire year"

Key Factors Driving the Environmental Impact

The unprecedented carbon footprint stems from:

1. Continental-scale hosting across USA, Canada, and Mexico
2. 40 additional matches (104 total) compared to previous tournaments
3. Heavy reliance on air travel between distant host cities

FIFA's Sustainability Commitments vs Reality

While FIFA has pledged to:

• Reduce emissions by 50% by 2030
• Achieve net-zero by 2040

The organization faces scrutiny after:

• Original bid estimates of 3.6 million tonnes proved significantly underestimated
• Swiss regulators ruled FIFA made "unsubstantiated claims" about Qatar 2022's carbon neutrality

FIFA maintains it has implemented sustainability strategies including:

• Greenhouse gas assessment and mitigation programs
• Waste reduction and recycling initiatives
• Green building certification for stadium operations

The organization has been contacted for comment regarding the new research findings.