Sustainability at the World Cup 2026: Raising the Mass Events Bar

For many years, FIFA has steadily increased its sustainability expectations, learning from each World Cup and applying those lessons to the next. What once focused primarily on stadium construction has evolved into a comprehensive sustainability framework that now includes operations, mobility, energy, water, waste, and supply chains. The FIFA World Cup 2026 represents the most ambitious sustainability effort to date — and a defining moment for how global sporting events are delivered.

One of the most notable decisions for the 2026 World Cup is that no new stadiums are being built. The tournament will rely entirely on existing venues that have been upgraded and optimized. This approach significantly reduces embodied carbon and avoids the risk of creating infrastructure with limited long-term use. However, it also shifts the sustainability challenge elsewhere. While construction impacts are minimized, the environmental footprint associated with travel between host cities across three countries will be significant, making mobility one of the most complex challenges to address.

Within stadium operations, sustainability has become increasingly performance-driven. Waste management, energy efficiency, and water savings have been central pillars of FIFA’s evolving requirements. Over multiple tournaments, these elements have shifted from voluntary initiatives to structured systems with clear metrics and accountability. Today, efficient operations are no longer optional, they are essential for hosting events at this scale.

At the same time, the sustainability agenda has expanded into an even more complex area: the supply chain. Food and beverage concessions, temporary infrastructure, merchandising, and particularly single-use plastics represent one of the biggest remaining challenges. Addressing these impacts requires coordination beyond the venue itself, aligning vendors, sponsors, and event operators around common sustainability goals.

In this context, Mexico enters the World Cup 2026 particularly well positioned. With three host stadiums, the country has made a clear commitment to sustainability by aligning all venues with leading international standards. Mexican stadiums already have certification under LEED Operations and Maintenance and are pursuing or have achieved LEED BD+C, going beyond FIFA’s baseline requirements to achieve LEED Silver–level performance. This decision reflects a strategic commitment to higher environmental, operational, and transparency standards, not just compliance.

Among these venues, Estadio Banorte (formerly Estadio Azteca) stands out as a powerful symbol of continuity and progress. Having hosted three World Cups, the stadium carries a deep historical legacy. Its current renovation demonstrates how iconic infrastructure can be transformed to meet the most demanding sustainability standards. Estadio Banorte will have the highest LEED certification level of all the stadiums in Mexico, once again raising the bar and proving that legacy venues can lead global sustainability efforts.

Mexico’s approach also highlights a broader contrast within the tournament. Not all stadiums in the United States are LEED-certified, placing Mexico at the forefront of sustainability leadership among World Cup host nations. This positions Mexican venues not only as compliant with FIFA expectations, but as benchmarks for operational excellence, efficiency, and long-term value creation in sports infrastructure.

However, experience working with these requirements shows that infrastructure alone is not enough. One of the most important challenges ahead is ensuring fan participation. Waste separation systems, water-saving fixtures, and energy-efficient operations only deliver their full impact when users actively engage with them. Without that participation, even the most advanced infrastructure falls short of its potential.

This makes communication a critical success factor. Stadiums must clearly explain what sustainability measures are in place, why they matter, and how fans can actively contribute. Signage, trained staff, intuitive systems, and consistent messaging all play a role in turning sustainability from a technical effort into a shared experience.

Ultimately, placing sustainability at the forefront of the World Cup is no longer about branding, it is about responsibility. Football has unmatched global reach and cultural influence. With that influence comes the obligation to lead by example. World Cup 2026 offers a platform to show that world-class competition can coexist with responsible resource management, supply-chain accountability, and climate awareness.

If we want to protect the game we love, sustainability must be embedded in how stadiums are renovated, how events are operated, and how fans experience them. With Mexican stadiums certifying above FIFA requirements and iconic venues like Estadio Banorte setting new standards, Mexico is ready to play a defining role in the most sustainable World Cup yet.