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Fez – FIFA is facing renewed criticism over the environmental impact of its major tournaments, with activists and academics warning that the growing scale of the World Cup is making it harder to address climate concerns.
The criticism comes as FIFA President Gianni Infantino continues to travel between host cities during the 2026 World Cup, often using private aircraft.
Critics say such practices send the wrong message at a time when sports organizations are under increasing pressure to reduce their carbon emissions.
The executive director of Greenpeace USA strongly criticized the use of private jets by FIFA officials, saying that executives taking daily flights on highly polluting aircraft show little recognition of the organization’s responsibility to help tackle climate change.
Environmental concerns extend beyond the current tournament. The issue is expected to resurface next year at the Women’s World Cup in Brazil and could become even more pronounced in 2030, when Morocco, Portugal and Spain host the men’s World Cup, with three opening matches scheduled in South America.
FIFA is also considering expanding the tournament to 64 teams, a move that could further increase travel and emissions.
The use of private jets is not limited to FIFA officials.
The World Cup attracts celebrities, business leaders and wealthy fans, adding to the event’s overall environmental footprint.
According to the British journal Nature, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar attracted 1,846 private jets.
The figure exceeded the combined number recorded at events such as the Super Bowl, the Cannes Film Festival, the World Economic Forum in Davos and the COP28 climate summit.
Critics argue that these emissions are difficult to justify.
American academic Tim Walters said during a debate last year that all emissions linked to the World Cup are “luxury rather than subsistence emissions” because the tournament is not an essential activity.
In this context, he added that the lavish lifestyles of the ultra-wealthy are particularly troubling and highlight the contradiction between climate goals and the reality of hosting global sporting events.
