2026 FIFA World Cup carbon footprint could reach 7.8 million metric tons, double Qatar's emissions
time.comA 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 emissions reported for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The main driver is spectator travel, which accounts for 87% of the projected footprint. International fans, making up 35% of attendees, are expected to cause 74% of travel-related emissions due to long flights across the 16 host cities in the US, Canada, and Mexico. While the 2026 tournament benefits from using existing stadiums (infrastructure drops to 3.1% of total emissions versus 24.6% for Qatar's new builds) and less carbon-intensive hotels, the sheer scale of the event overwhelms those gains. FIFA has committed to cutting emissions 50% by 2030 under the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, but its 2026 sustainability strategy sets no specific carbon target for the tournament itself.