FIFA, Mexico Roll Out Anti-Waste Plan for 2026 World Cup

FIFA and Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources have launched the “Gol por el Ambiente” initiative to implement circular economy projects targeting plastic and textile waste during the 2026 World Cup. The program promotes public- and private-sector participation in waste valorization and climate mitigation, aligning Mexico’s industrial competitiveness with global sustainability standards. The initiative comes as projections warn the tournament could become the most polluting in history, generating up to 13.66 million tons of CO₂ due to expanded air travel and infrastructure demands.

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Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FIFA is partnering with Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) to launch "Gol por el Ambiente" (Goal for the Environment), an initiative aimed at promoting the responsible management of plastic and textile resources. The FIFA-SEMARNAT initiative comes amid projections that the 2026 FIFA World Cup could be the most polluting edition in the tournament’s history. 

The campaign was unveiled during a March 19 ceremony led by Jürgen Mainka, Director General, FIFA’s Mexico office, and Alicia Bárcena, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Mainka emphasized that the upcoming tournament — the largest in history — presents an unprecedented challenge for environmental governance. “This event will be the largest edition of a World Cup across three countries,” Mainka said. “FIFA has developed a sustainability and human rights strategy to manage the tournament’s overall environmental impact, which is why we are joining this campaign.”

The “Gol por el Ambiente” initiative is spearheaded by Mexico’s Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA). It serves as a voluntary call to action for public, private and social organizations to implement circular economy projects ahead of the World Cup, which begins on June 11. The program focuses on extending the life cycles of plastics and textiles, redirecting them from landfills into productive value chains.

At the ceremony, Bárcena outlined the program’s operational timeline. The call for proposals  will remain open until June 8, with selected projects to be announced by Sept. 30, followed by official recognition. Bárcena noted that FIFA will lead by registering a plastic management project, while PROFEPA will launch a separate initiative focused on textile circularity.

“We want to move away from the linear economy — that model designed to produce an item that ends up in landfills, on the streets or in rivers,” Bárcena said. “Investing in nature and in a new model of production and consumption is not only an ethical responsibility; it is also good business.”

The minister stressed that economic growth and environmental protection are “convergent paths” rather than opposing forces. She described the campaign as a strategic investment to enhance competitiveness without compromising natural resources. To expand the initiative beyond the three host cities, the federal government will convene state governors on March 26 to integrate regional environmental efforts.

Gabriela Cuevas, the federal government’s representative for Mexico’s 2026 World Cup organization, said the tournament remains a “powerful tool for social and environmental transformation.” With 84 days remaining before final preparations are set, she underscored the importance of translating sustainability commitments into practical action.

Bárcena also highlighted the urgent need to address textile waste, citing the global saturation of discarded clothing as a major environmental challenge. She called on companies to eliminate toxic discharges and urged municipalities to prevent untreated wastewater from entering natural water bodies during the expected influx of visitors.

“What we are seeking is for waste to no longer have a place in Mexico,” Bárcena said, emphasizing the importance of “shared prosperity” that revalues waste and reduces environmental impact. The campaign aims to foster a culture of recycling and reuse, creating new economic opportunities while reducing the ecological footprint of large-scale sporting events.

2026 World Cup Could be Most Polluting Ever

A report by the New Weather Institute — released in collaboration with Scientists for Global Responsibility, the Environmental Defense Fund and Cool Down: The Sport for Climate Action Network — estimates that the competition could generate 9.02 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions, nearly double the average of the previous four editions (4.71 million tons).

A key driver of the projected increase is air travel. The 2026 tournament will be the first to feature 48 teams, up from 32 in 2022, adding 40 matches and eight new stadiums. With host cities spread across North America — from Mexico City to Vancouver — aviation-related emissions are expected to rise between 160% and 325%. With limited low-carbon transportation alternatives such as rail, total emissions could reach as high as 13.66 million tons of CO₂.

The report also assessed climate-related risks across all 16 host stadiums, based on heat stress (measured using Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, or WBGT), flooding vulnerability and exposure to extreme weather. Eight stadiums were identified as requiring high-priority mitigation measures to protect players and surrounding communities. 

While seven are located in the United States, Monterrey’s Estadio BBVA was flagged for insufficient heat mitigation and the high carbon intensity of Mexico’s energy grid. With an average WBGT of 81°F during June and July, Monterrey presents a heightened risk for unacclimatized individuals, according to guidelines from the American College of Sports Medicine.