World Cup 2026: How Fifa president Gianni Infantino is jetting around
FIFA has committed to reducing emissions by 50% by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2040.
For this year’s tournament, world football’s governing body has made a number of environmental commitments, including:
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By hosting teams regionally, it reduces “dependence on long-distance travel for a significant portion of participants”
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Studies to increase energy efficiency by encouraging the use of electric cars, public transportation and water saving
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use of existing stadiums
But even before the first ball was bowled on June 11, some climate scientists had doubts, given the scale of the tournament.
A 2025 report from Scientists on Global Responsibility (SGR) estimates that the overall carbon footprint of this World Cup could reach nine million tonnes of CO2e.
This would be almost double the average of the last four World Cups, making this year’s tournament the most polluting ever.
In 2023, a Swiss regulator said FIFA had “made false statements” by claiming Qatar 2022 would be the first carbon-neutral World Cup in history, using investments in low-carbon initiatives to offset emissions.
In response to the decision, FIFA said it was “fully aware that climate change is one of the most urgent challenges of our time and believes that this requires each of us to take urgent and sustainable climate measures.”
Infantino participated in all 64 matches at the last World Cup in Qatar; The eight stadiums used here were separated by no more than an hour’s drive; But this year’s continent-wide tournament offers a very different challenge.
Additional reporting by Mark Poynting.
