The environmental impact of the 2026 World Cup

The Environmental Impact of the 2026 World Cup

The upcoming World Cup is likely to leave a significant environmental footprint due to increased air travel and energy demands for cooling systems.

The 2026 World Cup tournament, hosted by 16 cities in Mexico, Canada, and the United States, is expected to attract 5.5 million fans and feature 48 teams and 104 matches.

Research from the Scientists for Global Responsibility suggests that the expanded tournament will generate over nine million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, making it the most climate-damaging World Cup in history.

It’s the beautiful game.

This World Cup will be the first to be held across an entire continent, with a significant increase in matches, from 64 to 104.

Author's summary: The 2026 World Cup will have a massive environmental impact.

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Geographical Geographical — 2025-10-27

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