A new analysis from carbon accounting platform Greenly estimates the 2026 FIFA World Cup could generate 7.8 million metric tons of CO2, more than double the official 3.8 million tons reported for the 2022 tournament in Qatar. The main driver is spectator travel, which is expected to account for 87% of total emissions due to the huge distances fans will travel across 16 host cities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The report notes that stadium construction emissions will be much lower for 2026 because most venues already exist, unlike Qatar which built seven new stadiums. However, the sheer scale of the event with 48 teams and 104 matches, combined with heavy reliance on air travel for international fans, pushes the overall footprint much higher. FIFA has not set a specific carbon target for the 2026 tournament, despite previous commitments to cut emissions by 50% by 2030.
