Tag: football

Dr James Jackson

Sustainable Consumption Institute (SCI) The University of Manchester James.jackson-2@manchester.ac.uk

Dr Mark Doidge

Sport for Climate Action and Nature group Loughborough University m.doidge@lboro.ac.uk

Dr Oscar Berglund

Cabot Institute for the Environment University of Bristol Oscar.berglund@bristol.ac.uk12

Jennifer Amann & Samuel Toscano (postgraduate researchers)

Introduction

The relationship between football and climate change has become increasingly significant. Recent reports highlight the environmental impact of football, especially in the context of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This tournament is expected to be the most polluting ever, due to the vast distances teams and fans will travel and the involvement of major polluters like Aramco as sponsors. These impacts are not accidental but are politically produced, as outlined in this report.

Historical Context and Growth

Football’s spread and growth have always been linked to the expansion of carbon-intensive industries. The sport, while now a significant industry, primarily serves a cultural role in promoting and embedding these industries. According to the World Trade Organization, football contributed $200 billion to global GDP in 2022, a small fraction of the world’s total GDP, but its cultural influence is unmatched. The sport’s global reach surpasses even that of religion, music, or film.

Historically, football grew alongside industrialization in Europe, particularly in Britain. The Factory Act of 1850 allowed workers Saturday afternoons off, leading to the tradition of 3 pm kick-offs. Industrialization enabled larger crowds and broader competitions, and football spread from England to industrial regions across Europe and Latin America. Many early clubs were founded by British industrialists and had strong ties to local industries. After World War II, football became more professionalized, with clubs often linked to major industries, such as Juventus with Fiat and Wolfsburg with Volkswagen.

Globalization and Commercialization

The 1990s marked a period of globalization for football, with the creation of the Champions League and the Premier League. This era saw increased investment from fossil fuel interests and a concentration of elite clubs in major cities. The expansion of competitions, such as the Champions League and the World Cup, has led to more games, more travel, and greater resource consumption, further increasing football’s carbon footprint.

There is a tension between football’s sustainability efforts and the growth pursued by governing bodies like FIFA. While some argue that expanding competitions increases inclusivity, critics contend that the primary motivation is financial gain, often benefiting fossil fuel sponsors. The construction of new stadiums and infrastructure for major tournaments also contributes significantly to environmental degradation.

Sustainability Challenges

Sustainability managers in football clubs often face the challenge of balancing environmental initiatives with commercial realities. Clubs tend to focus on increasing revenues rather than minimizing costs, making it difficult to prioritize sustainability unless it can be framed as revenue-generating. The costs of climate change, such as flooding or heat stress, are often overlooked in favor of short-term financial considerations.

Sportswashing and Fossil Fuel Influence

Football has become central to the petrostate strategy of sportswashing, where fossil fuel interests use the sport to maintain cultural dominance and legitimacy. Sponsorships, ownership of clubs, and major events in petrostates embed fossil fuels within football culture, making it harder to imagine the sport without them. This strategy differs from greenwashing, as it seeks to normalize fossil fuel involvement rather than merely improve public perception.

FIFA’s partnerships with fossil fuel companies and its willingness to host events in petrostates raise questions about its commitment to sustainability. The organization’s sustainability strategies often align closely with the interests of host nations, undermining its credibility as an independent governing body.

Policy Recommendations

The report makes several policy recommendations to address football’s destructive relationship with climate change:

1. Stop hosting events in petrostates: FIFA should avoid awarding major tournaments to countries with strong fossil fuel interests, focusing instead on nations that would benefit more from development opportunities.
2. Restrict fossil fuel ownership: UEFA should limit the ownership of clubs by petrostates and fossil fuel companies to reduce their influence over the sport.
3. Focus on costs as well as revenue: Clubs should consider the long-term costs of climate change and prioritize sustainability initiatives, even if they require upfront investment.
4. Fan representation on boards: Fans should have a voice in club decision-making, especially regarding sustainability, through democratically elected organizations rather than commercial mechanisms like fan tokens.
5. Ban fossil fuel advertisements: Sponsorships from fossil fuel companies should be prohibited, similar to bans on tobacco advertising, to reduce their cultural influence.
6. Fund adaptation for grassroots football: Financial support should be provided to grassroots football to help adapt to the impacts of climate change, following the example of UEFA’s Climate Fund.
7. Embed sustainability managers: Sustainability managers should be fully integrated into club operations and involved in all major decisions, not just as a formality.
8. Stop expanding competitions: Football’s governing bodies should halt the expansion of competitions and focus on optimizing schedules to reduce environmental impact and improve player welfare.
9. Encourage player activism: Players should be empowered to speak out on sustainability issues and organize collectively through unions and associations.

Conclusion

Football’s environmental impact is deeply rooted in its historical and political context. Addressing these challenges requires systemic changes at all levels of the sport, from governance and sponsorship to grassroots participation and fan engagement. By implementing these recommendations, football can begin to break its destructive relationship with climate change and move towards a more sustainable future.