FIFA 2026 Faces Greenwashing Allegations Amid Climate Concerns
Allegations have arisen that FIFA is deliberately trashing the environment and giving into greenwashing, which many term as “performative sustainability”
The upcoming FIFA World Cup, arguably the most famous sporting event in the whole world, poses a threat to the environment and the 2026 edition seems to be one of the worst editions to date. Not just is it the most polluting World Cup yet, it is equally the most politically controversial one yet with ticket prices at an all time high; standing on a tricky land with the question whether Iran will participate in the event with the President of one of the host nations waging war on it.
This year, organisers chose to increase the participating teams from 32 to 48 as well as selecting three host countries in total, which makes for a vast geographical expanse where fans have to travel for kilometres making eco-friendly travel much harder to pull off. According to scientists, 2026’s FIFA is to generate 9 million tons of CO2 out of which 7.7 million tons consists of air travel which is quadruple the times than in the years 2010 to 2022.
Allegations have arisen that FIFA is deliberately trashing the environment and giving into greenwashing, which many term as “performative sustainability”.
In the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA president Gianni Infantino had pleaded with soccer fans “to raise FIFA’s green card for the planet”, which they claim is a message to help preserve the environment, save world and put it online - all in the attempt to make the World Cup “carbon neutral”. However, ground reality was that the event was single handedly responsible for more than 1,000 inbound and outbound flights, daily. Yet, many argue this year’s edition will be way worse.
At the 2022 FIFA, the stadiums were located close together in relation to the metros and trains. Whereas this year, fans and families will have to travel 5,000+ kilometres depending on where you are from.
Along with all this, in 2024, FIFA signed a four year partnership with Saudi Aramco, the state-owned giant that is the largest greenhouse gas emitter on earth responsible for emitting more than 4% since the year 1965. To add onto the monstrosity, heat is another dangerous problem thanks to the uncontrolled climate change. The National Weather Service, is warning that the temperatures will be at an all time high, breaking records of never seen before in the two months the tournament will take place.
Sure, FIFA has taken steps to mitigate the heat issue by making sure the tournament takes place in the evening hours of the day. They have also stated that each half of each match will have a compulsory “water break” irrespective of the weather conditions where television broadcasters will fill the break time with commercials so that they don’t break away from the referee's water-break whistle and return 30 seconds before the game resumes.
All in all one could only say that while football unites the world, the game cannot thrive on a dying planet. It’s time for the beautiful games to take responsibility and accountability for their carbon footprint. Let’s make sure our love for the sport does not cost the planet.
This article is written by Yashasvi M, a student of St. Francis College for Women, interning with Deccan Chronicle.
