As the host for the 2034 Men’s Soccer World Cup, Saudi Arabia has announced plans to construct or upgrade 15 stadiums, develop a high-tech city, and enhance airport facilities to cater to millions of athletes, coaches, and fans.
This ambitious undertaking is estimated to generate significant greenhouse gas emissions due to the production and transport of concrete and steel, along with the use of diesel-powered machinery for the movement of materials. When emissions from buildings globally are aggregated, they represent the largest contributor to climate change.
Andrew Zimbalist, an economics professor at Smith College, criticized the mass construction of new venues, labeling it “extremely wasteful” environmentally. He expressed that such a high carbon footprint and strain on resources could have been avoided, and urged that the World Cup be hosted in countries that already possess a mature soccer culture and infrastructure.
Seth Warren Rose, founding director of Eneref Institute, echoed these concerns, noting that by the time 2034 arrives, the planet will be facing more severe climate conditions, making the planned emissions reductions critically important.
Rose emphasized the need for organizers to genuinely strive for emission reductions or reconsider hosting altogether. The dependence on concrete in Saudi Arabia’s plans, known to account for approximately 8% of global emissions, raises alarm among environmentalists. Iron and steel, crucial for construction, contribute an additional 7% to carbon emissions.
Human rights organizations are also wary, fearing the well-being of migrant workers involved in the preparations for the tournament.
In its bid book, Saudi Arabia revealed plans for extensive developments across five cities, with current construction on three new stadiums and plans for eight more to host the World Cup’s first-ever 48-team format. However, venues built for major tournaments often end up underutilized, becoming what is known as “white elephants.” There has been no response from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation regarding these concerns.
The nation also proposed various accommodations, new hotels, fan festival areas, expanded transport options such as high-speed rail, and investments in the futuristic city of Neom. This initiative ties into Saudi’s Vision 2030 plan intended to diversify the economy and stimulate new business growth.
Despite a mention of sustainable practices, such as operating stadiums on clean energy and using energy-efficient designs, Karim Elgendy from Chatham House points out that the overall magnitude of Saudi Arabia’s preparations, combined with the distances between cities, suggests the potential for the most carbon-intensive World Cup ever.
He noted that without adequate mitigating actions, the carbon output from this event could reach almost double that of the record set in 2022 during the last World Cup.
In contrast, organizers of the upcoming Paris Olympics have claimed progress toward their goal of halving carbon emissions compared to previous games by integrating renewables and more sustainable practices in their operations. As various parties speculate on whether FIFA should have selected a different host with established infrastructures, Walker Ross from the University of Edinburgh mentioned that the rapid selection process limited the options available.
Looking ahead, the next World Cup in 2026 will take place across 16 cities in North America, which also raises concerns about excessive carbon emissions from long-distance travel by teams and fans. The same issues may arise during the 2030 World Cup, which is anticipated to be held across six countries.
Concerns about the environmental impact of mega sporting events extend back to Qatar, which executed a monumental construction plan worth $200 billion in preparation for the 2022 World Cup, which resulted in an estimated 3.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions related to event preparations. Although organizers claimed the tournament would be ‘carbon neutral,’ experts found their estimates inaccurate and lacking in full scope.
Responding to critics, FIFA recently acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s sustainability claims through an evaluation, indicating that while construction would undeniably have environmental implications, the bid contains a solid basis for implementing mitigation strategies for resolving these challenges.
As climate issues linger, concerns about Saudi Arabia’s rapidly increasing emissions continue, with the country accounting for 1.6% of global emissions in 2022. Although Saudi Arabia is aiming to have at least 50% of its energy come from renewable sources by 2030, progress remains slow.
Khaled Diab, a spokesperson for Carbon Market Watch, has lamented that FIFA appears to have failed to learn from the lessons of Qatar, underscoring the importance of approaching the upcoming World Cup with urgency to address environmental concerns.
