2026 FIFA World Cup breaks records for size and carbon emissions as 48-team tournament spans three countries

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest in history, with 48 teams competing across the US, Canada, and Mexico. This expansion is projected to generate a record $11 billion for FIFA but also create an unprecedented carbon footprint of up to 9 million tons, mostly from air travel. Fans and host cities face steep costs, with high ticket prices and local governments funding security and transit without sharing in ticket revenue.

Environmental impact and carbon emissions

• ▪Air travel for teams, fans, and media is expected to account for 85-87% of the tournament's total carbon emissions
• ▪The 2026 World Cup's carbon footprint is more than double the estimated 3.6-3.8 million tons from the 2022 tournament in Qatar
• ▪FIFA has a multi-year global partnership with Aramco, Saudi Arabia's state-owned energy company and the world's largest corporate greenhouse gas emitter
• ▪Due to heat concerns, FIFA has introduced mandatory three-minute cooling breaks in each half of every match
• ▪The 2026 tournament is projected to generate between 7.8 and 9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent

Expanded 48-team format

• ▪The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first to be co-hosted by three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico
• ▪The tournament has expanded from 32 to 48 national teams, increasing the number of matches from 64 to 104
• ▪A record 1,248 registered footballers are participating, with 26 players allowed per squad across the 48 teams

Dynamic pricing model

• ▪The typical price for a ticket to an attractive group stage match is around $1,000
• ▪FIFA's ticketing system allows fans to relist their tickets for sale with no upper price limit, with FIFA taking a 15% cut from both the seller and buyer

Fan costs ticket prices

• ▪Widely available seats for 2026 matches cost around $560, nearly 10 times higher than the $55 starting price for comparable seats in Qatar in 2022
• ▪Transit costs for fans have increased, with a New Jersey Transit train ticket rising from a normal price of $12.90 to around $100 for the tournament
• ▪Host cities are responsible for funding security, transit, and other event costs and do not share in the soaring ticket revenue

Host city economic burden

• ▪Unlike the 1994 World Cup in the US, FIFA has rented the 2026 stadiums for a fixed sum, keeping the ticket revenue for itself
• ▪FIFA is expected to generate roughly $11 billion in total revenue from the 2026 World Cup
• ▪New York and New Jersey officials plan to spend about $503 million on World Cup-related events

FIFA global revenue redistribution

• ▪Due to heat concerns, FIFA has introduced mandatory three-minute cooling breaks in each half of every match
• ▪FIFA's equal distribution model provides significant windfalls to small nations, such as Montserrat receiving funds worth 2.5% of its annual GDP
• ▪FIFA states that revenues will be redistributed to its 211 member associations to develop football globally