The FIFA World Cup brings millions of fans together in front of television screens, mobile devices, and fan zones, while millions more travel across the globe to watch the matches live in stadiums.
This year’s tournament, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is expected to attract around 6.5 million spectators to stadiums, while the total number of visitors, including fan zones, could exceed 10 million.
However, the world’s biggest football event leaves not only a sporting legacy but also a significant economic, social, and environmental footprint. The larger the tournament becomes, the more frequently questions arise about its long-term impact on host cities, local communities, and the environment. Is sustainability merely a commitment on paper, or is it reflected in the organizers’ decisions?
According to Professor Edmundas Jasinskas, Vice-Rector for Research at Lithuanian Sports University (LSU) and Professor of Economics, this year’s World Cup introduces not only organizational innovations but also significant sustainability challenges.
“For the first time in history, the FIFA World Cup features 48 national teams instead of 32, and the number of matches has increased from 64 to 104. This is undoubtedly an important step forward for the development of football, but from a sustainability perspective, it represents a major challenge. Researchers point out that the larger number of matches, the growing number of spectators, and longer travel distances substantially increase carbon dioxide emissions. More matches mean more flights, more road travel, and greater pressure on public transport. Moreover, this year’s tournament is being hosted by three countries separated by thousands of kilometres, making travel even more extensive,” says Professor Jasinskas.
According to researchers, while the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar generated approximately 3.6 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions, this year’s tournament could produce between 7.6 and 9 million tonnes. The primary sources of emissions have also changed. In Qatar, most emissions were associated with the construction of new stadiums and their air conditioning systems, whereas transportation is expected to be the largest source of emissions during the 2026 tournament.
Researchers have also estimated that the FIFA President’s private flights during the tournament generated as much CO₂ as 68 people produce on average over the course of an entire year.
Although FIFA states that it is systematically reducing its environmental impact, Professor Jasinskas believes that symbolic initiatives, such as tree-planting campaigns, are not enough.
“Increasingly, the discussion is shifting beyond sustainability towards regeneration–the ambition to leave a place in a better condition than it was before the event. This means investing in local communities, public spaces, and sports and recreational infrastructure that will continue serving people long after the tournament has ended. A good example is the Tokyo Olympic Games, where the medals were produced from precious metals recovered from discarded electronic devices and household appliances,” he explains.
Despite these sustainability challenges, the FIFA World Cup remains one of the most profitable sporting events in the world. While some tickets were distributed through national football associations, prices on the open market often exceeded USD 1,000 (approximately EUR 877). It is estimated that for an England supporter, attending the national team’s group-stage matches–including tickets, flights, and accommodation–could cost around USD 7,000 (approximately EUR 6,140).
“The ticketing strategy relied on dynamic pricing, where prices were determined by supply and demand. Given the enormous demand and limited ticket availability, prices increased rapidly. The FIFA World Cup rivals the Olympic Games in global popularity, making it one of the most commercially successful sporting events in the world. Despite criticism, FIFA maintains that all tournament revenues will be reinvested into the development of football worldwide,” says the LSU professor.
Nevertheless, the high ticket prices have become a serious challenge for the most loyal supporters. Many fans simply could not afford to attend the tournament, while others had to save money for months.
“There is also some good news for football fans. FIFA overestimated the market’s willingness to pay premium prices. Shortly before the tournament began, ticket prices on the secondary market started to fall, allowing some supporters to attend matches at considerably lower prices. However, these were exceptions. As the tournament progresses and the importance of matches increases, ticket prices remain significantly higher than at previous FIFA World Cups,” Professor Jasinskas notes.
Around 6.5 million spectators are expected to attend matches at stadiums during the FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, while the total number of visitors, including fan zones, could reach 10 million.
“In the future, we are likely to see more World Cups jointly hosted by several countries. Sustainability considerations, pressure from local communities, and economic realities all contribute to this trend. It is also likely that World Cup organizers will place increasing emphasis not only on commercial success but also on sustainability,” Professor Jasinskas concludes.
The 2030 FIFA World Cup will also be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, continuing the trend toward multinational tournaments.
