Muddying the water

Scientists for Global Responsibility have released a report suggesting the 2026 FIFA World Cup is going to be the most "climate-damaging" in history.

Ongoing controversy

Given the ongoing controversies in the United States as is, this latest news is just another sign that next year’s World Cup could be the most divisive in history.

Air travel

The SGR’s report states the increase in pollution is driven, at least in part, by, "a high reliance on air travel and significant increase in the quantity of matches."

Record-breaking

The 2026 tournament will see 40 more matches than previous editions, as 16 more teams have been added. The expansion itself is seen by some as a controversial move, with the tournament potentially being diluted by having too many weaker nations in it.

Nine million tonnes

It is expected that the World Cup, hosted in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, is set to produce up to nine million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, per BBC Sport. Nearly double the amount produced by the 2022 edition of the competition, which was held in Qatar.

Nearly three times the estimate

BBC Sport has also reported, in the original bid for the World Cup, the organizing body estimated there would only be 3.6 million tonnes of CO2e produced, nearly three times lower than the SGR’s findings.

“Establish new standards”

The bid also went out of its way to suggest pollution, or lack thereof, was at the forefront of their minds, stating the bid, "hopes the 2026 World Cup will establish new standards for environmental sustainability in sport and deliver measurable environmental benefits." Promises which look set to be nothing more than empty.

Against FIFA’s commitments

For their part, FIFA has committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 50% by 2030, with net-neural carbon emissions being targeted by 2040. How the upcoming World Cup fits into those targets, we are unsure.