The decision to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup across three continents is raising environmental concerns, with experts questioning the impact of the event on the planet. The tournament will see football teams and fans crisscrossing the globe, potentially increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
An announcement on the 2030 and 2034 World Cups is expected on Wednesday, with Saudi Arabia as the sole bidder for 2034. For 2030, Morocco, Spain, and Portugal are bidding jointly, while Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will each host a match.
Guillaume Gouze, of the Centre of Sports Law and Economics at the University of Limoges, emphasized FIFA’s "moral responsibility" to consider climate concerns, describing the plans as an “ecological aberration.”
Benja Faecks, from Carbon Market Watch, criticized the geographic spread of the 2030 tournament, calling it “an unfortunate geographic choice.” She noted that the event would force teams and fans to travel long distances by air, significantly increasing emissions.
The three South American matches aim to commemorate the World Cup's centenary, as the event began in Montevideo in 1930. While FIFA argues that the remaining 101 matches will take place in geographically close countries with developed transport networks, critics believe the decision undermines efforts to reduce the tournament’s environmental footprint.
Experts also highlighted the environmental impact of expanding the World Cup to 48 teams, starting from the 2026 edition in North America. Aurelien Francois, a sports management professor at the University of Rouen, said this expansion could lead to more waste, higher demand for accommodation, and other logistical challenges.
The controversy has been compounded by FIFA’s sponsorship deal with Saudi oil giant Aramco, which was criticized by female footballers for its human rights and environmental implications.
Some experts propose alternative measures, such as limiting tournament hosting to cities with existing infrastructure, encouraging fans to travel by train, and creating fan zones in major cities to reduce air travel. However, such changes would require FIFA to accept potential financial trade-offs.
Ronan Evain, of Football Supporters Europe, noted that while co-hosting can work, as seen in the 2002 Japan-South Korea World Cup, the 2030 plan poses significant challenges for fans and the environment. Despite these concerns, Antoine Miche, of Football Ecologie France, observed that die-hard fans might still prioritize passion over practicality.
