Could the World Cup be the most environmentally polluting sports event in history?

An article published by The Guardian suggests that the 2026 World Cup could become the largest environmentally polluting sporting event in history, with estimates indicating emissions of about 9 million tons of carbon dioxide, with the possibility of this number increasing due to extensive air travel between the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The article points out that expanding the tournament to 48 teams and distributing the matches across vast geographical distances will force teams and fans to undertake long and frequent flights, resulting in a much higher carbon footprint compared to previous editions.

It also points out that the transportation infrastructure between the host cities does not help reduce emissions but rather increases reliance on air travel.

The article also criticizes what it describes as "greenwashing" by FIFA, citing its commercial partnerships, including its agreement with Aramco, one of the largest contributors to global carbon emissions. Writers and analysts believe that these partnerships contradict the publicly stated environmental rhetoric of the International Federation of Football.

The article also warns of the risks of high temperatures during the tournament, as temperatures are expected to exceed dangerous levels in several host cities, which could affect the health of players and fans.

He concludes that the upcoming World Cup may be a stark example of the contradiction between global sports and climate commitments, in the absence of sufficient measures to reduce the environmental impact.