Environmental experts warn that the expanded 48 team World Cup across North America will likely be the most polluting sporting event in history. Estimates suggest emissions could reach nine million tonnes of CO2, driven largely by the massive distances teams and fans must fly between venues in Canada, Mexico, and the US. While FIFA has previously pledged to reduce and offset emissions, critics point to the growth of the tournament and a lack of concrete guarantees for 2026 as evidence of environmental denial. The scale of the event contrasts sharply with the lower carbon footprints seen in recent Olympic Games.
