FIFIA World Cup| Image Credit: The University of ManchesterThe 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the largest in the tournament's history. The tournament will be the largest of its kind, with 48 teams, 104 matches, and venues across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.But according to a new report from researchers at the University of Manchester, Loughborough University, and the University of Bristol, it could become one of the most carbon-intensive World Cups ever staged.The warning comes as football faces mounting pressure over its climate footprint and its ties to fossil fuel industries. Researchers state the environmental impact of the modern game stems not only from stadiums and travelling supporters but from years of expansion, globalisation and financial ties to petrostates and energy companies.Bigger tournament, bigger emissionsOne of the major concerns in the report concerns the scale of the 2026 event.According to FIFA, this will be the first time the competition has featured 48 teams, compared to 32 in Qatar in 2022, and will consist of 104 matches across 16 host cities in the US, Canada, and Mexico. The Qatar 2022 World Cup had 64 matches.Researchers argue that this increase in size is likely to significantly increase its carbon footprint. Millions of supporters, as well as the teams, officials, and sponsors, will have to travel vast distances across the US, Canada, and Mexico, spanning three different countries and several time zones.Unlike the 2022 World Cup, when the venues were tightly clustered in Qatar, the spread of the 2026 World Cup, from Vancouver in Canada down to Mexico City in Mexico and Miami in the US, will have a continental footprint. University of Manchester researchers warn that this combination of larger tournaments and longer journeys could lead to the most carbon-intensive World Cup to date.The growing links to fossil fuel interestsThe report doesn't stop at analysing the emissions from travel, but delves into the financial structures that support modern football.The report details the increased investment from wealthy oil-producing nations and partnerships with fossil fuel companies. A key area of focus is FIFA's global deal with Saudi energy company Aramco.In April 2024, it was revealed that FIFA announced a four-year global partnership with Saudi energy company Aramco covering major tournaments through 2027, including the men's 2026 World Cup and the women's 2027 tournament.These agreements, researchers suggest, could have a deeper embedding of fossil fuel interests into sport, using the game's cultural reach to normalise polluters.Dr. Oscar Berglund, Senior Lecturer in International Public and Social Policy at the University of Bristol, said that football has become a really potent vehicle for what critics have been calling sportswashing, where governments or industries under pressure over environmental, social, and human rights issues turn to sport to enhance their global reputation and visibility.The opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2014| Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons​Climate change is no longer a novelty for footballConcerns over football's impact on the climate aren't new; they've been growing for years. Extreme temperatures have become a recurring issue for sporting calendars around the world, and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as is well-known, was relocated from its usual summer slot to November to combat the heat.According to the University of Manchester report, the sport's governing bodies are trying to adapt to the changing climate rather than address the cause of its emissions, and are pushing ahead with expansion while simultaneously launching sustainability campaigns.Dr. James Jackson of the University of Manchester said football is already seeing the effects of climate change through extreme weather, heatwaves, and disruptions that affect players, supporters, and infrastructure.The report goes on to flag concerns over future competitions, including the awarding of the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia.What changes are being proposed?The researchers call for a range of measures aimed at reducing football's environmental impact. Among their recommendations are restrictions on fossil fuel sponsorships, limits on fossil fuel ownership of clubs, an end to awarding major tournaments to petrostate hosts, and a halt to the continued expansion of international competitions.The report also recommends giving sustainability managers greater influence within football organisations so environmental concerns become part of core decision-making rather than a compliance exercise.Researchers are calling for a raft of changes to help make the sport more sustainable, including: banning fossil fuel sponsorships, preventing fossil fuel companies from owning clubs, ending major tournaments for petrostate hosts, ending the ongoing expansion of international competitions, and giving sustainability managers more power within the sport to implement environmental policies.FIFA's stanceFIFA has argued that major competitions bring development, infrastructure investment, and opportunities for football growth.Whether or not the 2026 tournament is ultimately the most polluting in history remains to be seen, but it is increasingly difficult to ignore its environmental cost as it grows into a vast global enterprise. For fans, the World Cup is a major global event; for climate researchers, it is a test of whether football can scale up without increasing its environmental impact.