The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across the US, Canada, and Mexico, is projected to generate roughly 9 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. This estimate is nearly four times the average pollution levels seen in tournaments between 2010 and 2022, driven largely by the necessity of air travel across 16 different stadiums. FIFA has pledged a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, but the organization admits that managing flight emissions remains a primary challenge. Critics point to previous claims of carbon neutrality in Qatar as a reason to doubt the current sustainability strategy for the upcoming event.
