The FIFA World Cup is the largest sports event of the year. In 2022, the final of the World Cup was watched by over 1 billion viewers. It took place in Qatar, where criticism was abundant regarding the event being organized in air-conditioned stadiums with specially grown grass by exploited workers. Despite the controversies, the sporting spectacle and suspense of the final between the French and the Argentinians overshadowed the negative feedback. The upcoming 2026 edition will be hosted across three countries: the USA, Mexico, and Canada, involving travel by air for 48 teams compared to the previous 32, with a new sponsor, Aramco, the Saudi oil production company. Major sports events like the Olympics are increasingly impactful, evident from the estimated 13 million tons of CO2 emissions from the Paris games. Laurent Castaignède, an engineer and author, will discuss the environmental footprint of sports events in “Le revers de la médaille” on Ecosociété editions with François Pitrel on La Question météo climat. [Context: Discussion on the environmental impact of major sports events like the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. Fact Check: The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted jointly by the USA, Mexico, and Canada, involving significant travel logistics compared to previous editions.]
