Professor: FIFA President G. Infantino contaminated like 68 people

2026-07-07 15:32 © Reuters

The World Football Championship draws millions of fans to their television screens, mobile phones, and fan zones, while millions of others embark on journeys to watch the matches in stadiums.

This year's championships in the USA, Canada, and Mexico are expected to attract around 6.5 million spectators to the stadiums, and together with fan zones, the total number of visitors could exceed 10 million.

However, the biggest football celebration in the world leaves not only a sporting but also an economic, social, and environmental footprint. The larger the tournament, the more frequently the question arises – what will its legacy be for cities, communities, and the environment? Is sustainability merely a declaration, or does it become real organizational decisions?

The scientific vice-rector of the Lithuanian Sports University, economics professor Edmundas Jasinas, states that this year's championship innovations pose not only organizational but also sustainability challenges.

"For the first time, 48 national teams, rather than 32, will participate in the World Championship, and instead of 64, there will be as many as 104 matches played. This is undoubtedly an important step for the development of football, but from a sustainability perspective, it is a serious test. Scientists point out that due to the increased number of matches, the surge in the flow of fans, and longer travels, carbon dioxide emissions are significantly increasing. More matches mean more flights, car journeys, and greater pressure on public transport. Moreover, this year's championship takes place in three countries, separated by thousands of kilometers, making travel even longer,” says the professor.

According to researchers, if the carbon dioxide emissions from the 2022 World Championship in Qatar were about 3.6 million tons of CO₂, then the impact of this year's tournament could grow to 7.6–9 million tons. The main sources of emissions have also changed. In Qatar, the construction of new stadiums and their air conditioning had the greatest impact on the environment, while this year, the largest portion of emissions comes from transport. Scientists calculate that even the private flights of the FIFA president during the championship generated as much CO2 emissions as 68 people typically produce in a year.

Although FIFA declares a consistent reduction of its environmental impact, according to the professor, mere symbolic initiatives such as tree planting are insufficient. "There is increasing talk not only about sustainability but also about regenerativity – the desire to leave a place better than it was before. This means investing in the living environment of communities, public spaces, and sports and recreation infrastructure that would serve people for many years after the championship. A good example is the Tokyo Olympic Games, where the medals were made from precious metals extracted from used electronics and household appliances,” notes E. Jasinas.

Despite sustainability challenges, the World Championship remains one of the most profitable sporting events in the world. Some tickets were distributed through national football federations, but in open sales, their prices often exceeded $1,000 (about €877). It is estimated that for an England fan, a trip to group stage matches – including tickets, flights, and accommodation – could cost around $7,000 (about €6,140). "Dynamic pricing models were applied during ticket sales – prices were determined by the supply and demand ratio. With enormous demand and a limited number of tickets, their prices rose rapidly. The World Football Championship rivals the Olympic Games in popularity, making it one of the most successful sporting events commercially,” states the LSU professor.

Despite the criticism, FIFA declares that the tournament's revenues will be invested in the development of football worldwide,” says the LSU professor.

Nevertheless, high ticket prices have become a serious challenge for the most loyal fans. Some could not afford the trip to the championship or had to save for several months for it. "There is some good news for fans – FIFA reassessed market opportunities. Just before the championship, ticket prices on the secondary market started to decrease, allowing some fans to watch the matches at significantly lower prices. However, due to more exceptions and the increasing importance of matches, ticket prices, compared to previous championships, are indeed very high,” notes E. Jasinas.

It is forecasted that about 6.5 million spectators will visit the World Football Championship in Mexico, the USA, and Canada, and with fan zones, it will reach 10 million. "In the future, we will see that more and more countries will jointly host championships. This is influenced by sustainability, community pressure, and economic calculations. It is likely that the organizers of the World Football Championship will pay more attention not only to commercial but also to sustainability aspects,” summarizes Prof. E. Jasinas. The 2030 World Football Championship will also take place in three countries – Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.