DECARBONISATION
The FIFA World Cup arrives in North America at an unprecedented scale – 48 teams, 16 host cities and matches spanning the United States, Canada and Mexico, with FIFA analysis in 2025 projecting that the tournament would drive US $ 30.5bn in economic output and create 185,000 jobs in the US in 2026.
For organisers, partners and host cities, it is a live, high-stakes test of whether sustainability can be delivered across a deeply complex, multi-system environment without compromising fan experience.
“ We at FIFA are all committed to working in collaboration with our stakeholders to prioritise the sustainability of our operations and ensure that human rights are respected throughout all phases of the tournament,” says Mattias Grafström, FIFA Secretary General.
The sustainability impact of operational fragmentation Unlike single-city or even singlecountry tournaments, the 2026 World Cup introduces a new level of operational fragmentation. Energy grids vary by region, transport systems are governed locally, supply chains stretch across borders, regulation differs by state and venue standards differ significantly.
“ We at FIFA are all committed to working in collaboration with our stakeholders to prioritise the sustainability of our operations and ensure that human rights are respected throughout all phases of the tournament”
Mattias Grafström Secretary General FIFA
140 June 2026