Soccer’s Carbon Footprint: How Dirty Is This Sports?

Soccer, also known as football, is the world’s most popular sport, with billions of fans and a vast global reach. While football is the commonly used term in most countries, soccer is widely recognized in regions like North America. Regardless of the name, the sport’s environmental impact remains a major concern, and its carbon footprint is growing.

Recent studies, particularly the New Weather Institute report “Dirty Tackle: The growing carbon footprint of football“, estimate that soccer’s total carbon footprint is around 64-66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO2e) annually. This is comparable to the annual emissions of Austria and 60% more than those of Uruguay.

Knowing the main causes of soccer’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is key to reducing its impact. So, what are the main culprits of the game’s growing carbon emissions?

The Major Contributors to Soccer’s Carbon Emissions

Here are the top three major sources of the sports’ rising GHG emissions:

Travel Emissions: The Heavy Cost of Mobility

Soccer matches require significant travel, both for teams and spectators. The reports highlight that spectator travel is the biggest contributor to non-sponsorship emissions. Air and car travel make up the bulk of these emissions, particularly for international competitions.

One Men’s FIFA World Cup match emits 44,000-72,000 tCO2e, equivalent to 31,500 to 51,500 average UK cars driven for a year.
A single English Premier League (EPL) match emits around 1,700 tCO2e, with spectator travel accounting for half of this.
Matches in international club competitions increase emissions by 50% due to air travel.
The FIFA World Cup, including qualification matches, emitted 6.5 million tCO2e over four years.

Expanding tournaments and increasing international matches worsen the problem. The 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada will need a lot of air travel. This will greatly raise emissions. The growth of international club competitions, like UEFA’s Champions League and FIFA’s new Club World Cup, makes this problem worse.

football carbon emissions — Source: New Weather Institute

Efforts to promote greener travel among spectators remain insufficient. While some clubs encourage fans to use public transport, overall adoption is low. More teams should step up. They could offer discounted match tickets for fans who use low-carbon transport.

Stadium Construction: Arenas of Pollution

Stadiums cause a lot of carbon emissions. This happens both during their construction and while they are maintained. The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar saw the construction of new stadiums emitting 270,000 tCO2e per stadium. Major clubs continue to renovate or build new stadiums, adding to their carbon footprint.

New stadiums for top-tier clubs like Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford resulted in significant emissions.
Clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Barcelona have large stadium expansion projects underway, which will further increase emissions.

Moreover, stadium energy use contributes to ongoing emissions. Many stadiums still use non-renewable energy. They have high electricity use on match days. While some clubs have implemented solar panels and LED lighting, these efforts must be expanded across all leagues.

Green Goals: Are Soccer’s Climate Commitments Enough?

Despite these staggering numbers, soccer’s governing bodies have done little to curb its carbon footprint. FIFA and UEFA have pledged to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2040, but their actions seem to contradict these commitments.

FIFA’s continued partnership with Aramco directly undermines its climate promises.
UEFA’s expansion of the Champions League and FIFA’s decision to increase the World Cup to 48 teams in 2026 will only lead to higher emissions.
Top clubs keep signing big deals with airlines and fossil fuel companies. This trend makes carbon-heavy activities seem normal.

Also, overloading players with longer schedules can harm the environment in other ways. Players travel more often, which raises emissions from team transport. Moreover, medical treatments for overworked athletes add an extra environmental burden.

Notably, the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, further stirs environmental concerns. The tournament will expand to 48 teams. This means more travel and better infrastructure are needed. This leads to higher GHG emissions. Recent developments have further highlighted these concerns.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup Emissions

In March 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a task force to oversee preparations for the event. This task force aims to leverage the World Cup to promote American excellence and attract foreign investment.

However, Trump’s assertion that political and economic tensions with co-host nations Canada and Mexico would “enhance the excitement” of the tournament has raised eyebrows. This view might overlook the urgent environmental issues tied to holding such a big event.

Estimates suggest that the event could generate over 3.6 million tonnes of CO₂. Most emissions come from air travel, stadium construction, and fans getting to games. These exceed the emissions from the 2022 Qatar World Cup, which was one of the most polluting ever.

These changes highlight the need for strong plans to reduce the environmental impact of the 2026 World Cup.

Kicking Off Sustainability: A Playbook for Change

Soccer has the power to lead climate action given its global influence. Here’s how the sport can reduce its environmental impact:

End High-Carbon Sponsorships: Just as tobacco advertising was banned in sports, governing bodies must phase out sponsorships with high-carbon emitters.
Reduce Air Travel: Football clubs and leagues should encourage train and bus travel for domestic matches. Ticketing policies can prioritize local fans to cut travel emissions.
Smaller, Regional Tournaments: FIFA and UEFA should prioritize regional competitions. This change can help cut down on long-haul flights.
Sustainable Stadiums: Clubs should invest in low-carbon stadiums. They can use renewable energy sources like solar panels and LED lighting.
Encourage Low-Carbon Fan Behavior: Clubs can offer incentives for public transport use, cycling, and electric vehicle travel to matches.
Stronger Climate Rules: Football federations need to set sustainability standards for competitions. Clubs must hit carbon reduction goals to take part.
Player-Led Advocacy: Many professional soccer players are already speaking out about climate change. Their influence can drive awareness and push governing bodies toward stronger climate commitments.

Time for Football to Act

Soccer’s carbon footprint is undeniable, but so is its potential to drive climate action. With its unmatched global reach, football can be a powerful force for sustainability. However, without real leadership from FIFA, UEFA, and major clubs, emissions will continue to rise.

The moment to act is now—before climate change threatens the very sport billions love. If football is truly committed to securing its future, it must move beyond words and take real, measurable action to cut emissions across all levels of the game.