How World Cup can win sustainability goals

The 2022 Qatar World Cup was the most successful FIFA World Cup to date, with five billion TV viewers and 1.2 million in-person attendees. Sustainability was a key focus, says DR VALENTINA DEDI, Lead Economic Advisor at KBR, as she examines football's decarbonisation efforts and how such major events can drive change, especially as Saudi Arabia prepares to host the 2034 World Cup.

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FOOTBALL'S global popularity has come with a significant environmental impact. The sport generates over 30 million tons of CO₂ annually, equivalent to the emissions of a country like Denmark (carbon literacy, 2023). While the travel undertaken by spectators is responsible for around half of this, stadium energy use and infrastructure construction are also significant contributors, with major tournaments driving a lot of this activity.

Football's global popularity has given the sport a unique opportunity to positively influence the wider decarbonisation effort. A growing number of initiatives sets the example for the game and the wider world to follow.

Stadiums are now built with innovative features to reduce their environmental impact, including energy-efficient lighting, green building materials, renewable energy sources, water conservation strategies, waste management practices and more. Numerous clubs have installed solar panels and wind turbines to power their stadiums. The Amsterdam Arena features both, with one of the largest solar roofs in the world and a wind farm, significantly contributing to the reduction of its carbon footprint.

Clubs are also increasingly turning to artificial pitches for their stadiums and training grounds, particularly in Baltic and Scandinavian countries where harsh weather conditions can challenge the beautiful game. While artificial pitches cannot be used in the top European professional leagues, they are common at all other levels of the game. These pitches offer year-round usability at a lower cost compared to natural grass, which requires watering, mowing, pesticide treatments and even artificial lighting to sustain optimal playing conditions.