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- Nearly 90 per cent of North America’s host venues will need to adaptatto extreme heat
- 2030 and 2034 tournament venues also analysed in report
- 91 per cent of North American fans believe the World Cup should be a global role model for sustainability
The 2026 Fifa World Cup could be the last to be held in North America without significant adaptation to extreme climate conditions, according to a new report co-authored by Common Goal and Football For Future (FFF).
The ‘Pitches in Peril’ report, co-produced with Jupiter Intelligence, suggests that 14 of 16 venues involved in hosting next year’s tournament are found to currently exceed safe-play thresholds for at least three major climate threats in extreme heat, unplayable rainfall and flooding.
Indeed, ten of the 16 stadiums already exceed safe-play thresholds due to extreme heat. By 2050, nearly 90 per cent of North America’s host venues will need adaptation to extreme heat.
In addition, six of the 16 venues are expected to face flooding by 2050, while nearly one-third of the venues are projected to face water demand either equal to or exceeding supply.
“As someone from Spain, I can’t ignore the reality of the climate crisis,” said Juan Mata, 2010 World Cup winner with Spain. “We’re seeing it more clearly than ever, from record-breaking heatwaves to floods like the ones in Valencia.
“Football has always brought people together, but now it’s also a reminder of what we stand to lose if we don’t act. We all have a role to play in facing this challenge, for our communities today and for future generations.”
The report, which is the first Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)-aligned climate risk assessment of all 2026 World Cup venues, comes after this summer’s Fifa Club World Cup was impacted by extreme weather delays.
The tournament, held in the US, was plagued by excess heat and thunderstorms, forcing Fifa to implement cooling and water breaks and shaded benches.
As well as assessing next year’s tournament venues, the report also analysed the risks to the stadiums set to be used for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups. The 2030 edition will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, as well as three games being held in South America. Four years later, the 2034 World Cup will be staged in Saudi Arabia.
It also highlighted the risks looming for grassroots pitches, with two-thirds of fields expected to face unsafe or unplayable heat conditions by 2050. For example, Liverpool star Mo Salah’s home ground in Egypt could encounter more than one month of unplayable heat each year.
“I have played in many of these cities and this report shows just how fast the game is changing – we need to adapt now if we want to protect the future of football,” said Jessie Fleming, Portland Thorns midfielder. “It is heartbreaking that pitches in places with the least responsibility for emissions are the ones suffering the most.”
The report additionally contained a survey that polled over 3,600 fans across the US, Canada and Mexico for their views on climate change in soccer. 91 per cent of respondents said the World Cup should act as a global role model for sustainability, with the same number of fans also indicating they would be proud if their club took climate action.
Meanwhile, 86 per cent of fans voiced that clubs and governing bodies should speak out on climate, and 92 per cent of fans were supportive of players speaking publicly about climate change.
The report’s authors urge soccer’s governing bodies to commit to net zero by 2040 and to publish clear decarbonisation plans, as well as suggesting major competitions should commit to funding grassroots adaptation for community pitches.
“Climate change is no longer a distant threat — it’s already reshaping football,” added Jérémy Houssin, environmental sustainability lead at Common Goal. “Hazards are escalating, and not all places face them equally.
“When young players can’t rely on safe, playable grounds in their communities, the entire future of the game is at risk. Football now has the clarity, the voices, and the mandate from fans to protect the game for generations to come.”
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