FIFA World Cup expansion stories

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

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, featuring a record 48 teams across 104 matches in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is generating unprecedented carbon emissions estimated between 3.7 and 9 million tons of CO2. The expanded tournament format and tri-national hosting arrangement require extensive travel by teams and fans, creating what analysts call the highest climate impact in World Cup history.