Pirate's Cove

It just goes to show that no matter what it happening, the climate cult will involve themselves

Climate change is the silent referee of the World Cup

Weather and sports are a lot more closely related than you may think, and the 2026 World Cup could be the greatest example of them all.

The tournament is returning to the United States for the first time in more than 30 years. It will be the most polluting World Cup in history — experts are predicting the games may possibly triple the emissions generated during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

For soccer fields in particular, water used to keep the pitch green can cause extra waste. That’s why some stadiums have recently become some of the most innovative examples of climate solutions. Forest Green Rovers in the United Kingdom has become the world’s first carbon neutral stadium and has been dubbed the “world’s greenest football club.” EV batteries, solar panels, even the players’ quick-stepping dribbles are some ways stadiums are finding new, cleaner ways to power their matches, and the World Cup puts them on a global stage.

It’s impossible to just have sports and fun without a (un)healthy dose of climate doom

Atlanta’s stadium alone sees 3 million visitors a year, a population that generates 5 million pounds of waste. While it typically clogs landfills, zero waste efforts like recycling and composting have now diverted 90% of that waste away from landfills. Landfills are a huge source of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, which is the most potent heat-trapping gas. Recycling paper towels, trapping rainwater for irrigation and cooling, and even growing urban gardens on-site are just some of the out-of-the-box ways Mercedes-Benz Stadium has aimed to reduce its environmental impact.

Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco is another host site for the World Cup this summer, and received several awards and certifications for its positive environmental impact. The stadium’s use of solar panels, recycled wood, green roofs, farm-to-table menus, and recycling and composting programs all help reduce its carbon footprint.

In Philadelphia, Lincoln Financial Field will host six matches, including frontrunner countries like Brazil and France. The stadium has been promoting its “Go Green” initiative for more than 20 years, which uses 10,000 solar panels to produce 40% of the stadium’s electricity. In 2023, the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles became the first professional sports organization in North America to use clean hydrogen fuel in its passenger vehicles. Bohenko says that sustainability initiatives like these are what left them incredibly prepared to host an event as big as the World Cup.

And, yet, how many take fossil fueled trips to the stadiums? We’re you should be more worried about being mugged, beaten, stabbed, or shot

Sports often feel like our escape from reality. Watching a game on TV or at the stadium is a favorite pastime, a way to destress, decompress and connect with friends and family. It’s our safe haven, and one that we often do not consider can be impacted by some of the harsh realities of global crisis. But, made evident by the several examples of stadium resilience, it can also be a part of the solution. Bohenko is excited for future innovation.