As the FIFA World Cup gets underway, most of its venues have already reached a major sustainability milestone, with 13 out of 16 stadiums earning LEED certification, the world’s most widely recognised green building rating system, according to the U.S. Green Building Council.
Ten of these stadiums have been certified since 2024 after undergoing detailed assessments covering energy efficiency, water usage, indoor environmental quality and waste management. The council expects at least two of the remaining three venues to obtain certification in the coming weeks, further expanding the tournament’s portfolio of green infrastructure.
Across the certified stadiums, more than 11,500 solar panels have been installed to generate renewable electricity. Collectively, these venues are expected to save over 100 million gallons of potable water annually and eliminate more than five million single-use plastics each year, based on figures provided by the stadium operators. In addition, four stadiums have implemented systems that allow them to reuse, recycle or compost nearly all waste, significantly reducing landfill contributions.
Rhiannon Jacobsen, managing director at the U.S. Green Building Council, said the benefits of certification extend beyond environmental impact.
“They’re going to be able to achieve cost savings, they are also going to be improving their indoor air quality,” Jacobsen said. “That would then support the fan experience and improve team performance.”
FIFA has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2040. One of the key strategies for the current tournament has been the use of existing stadium infrastructure, avoiding the carbon emissions associated with building new venues for major sporting events. LEED certification also signals improvements in energy and water efficiency, air quality and waste reduction across participating stadiums.
However, environmental scientists caution that despite these improvements, this edition of the World Cup is still expected to be the most polluting in history. The primary driver is large-scale air travel across North America, combined with the expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams. Aviation emissions remain a major contributor to global carbon output due to the combustion of jet fuel.
According to estimates from Scientists for Global Responsibility, the New Weather Institute and other environmental organisations, the tournament is projected to generate more than 9 million metric tons of carbon emissions. This is equivalent to nearly 6.5 million average British cars being driven for an entire year.
The LEED system, introduced by the U.S. Green Building Council in 1998, has become a global benchmark for sustainable construction and building operations. Projects earn points across categories such as energy performance, water efficiency and indoor environmental quality, which determine certification levels ranging from certified to platinum.
Buildings that achieve LEED certification typically consume around 25% less energy, reduce carbon emissions by approximately 34% and use about 10% less water compared with conventional structures, according to the council.
Today, there are around 51 LEED-certified professional sports venues in North America, most of them located in the United States, alongside roughly 150 certified sports facilities when including collegiate stadiums and arenas.
Recent initiatives, including a newly launched map by the U.S. Green Building Council, aim to highlight certified sports venues, including World Cup stadiums and other major arenas, with plans for further expansion of the platform.
Several host stadiums had already begun sustainability upgrades prior to FIFA’s hosting announcement in 2022. Among them, GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City introduced a range of environmental measures, including waste diversion systems that redirect over 90% of trash from landfills, biodigesters for food waste, LED lighting upgrades, water-saving fixtures and reusable cup programmes that eliminated around 100,000 plastic cups.
“We are continuously looking for ways to reduce the negative impact of large events on local communities and the environment,” said Garrett Wittmaier, director of stadium services for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The push for certification also extended to historic venues. Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, the oldest stadium in the tournament at 60 years old, achieved the highest tier of LEED certification in October. The 87,500-seat venue reduced indoor water use by 36% and cut energy consumption by nearly 45% through upgraded HVAC systems, efficient lighting and improved operational policies.
Félix Aguirre, deputy general manager of Estadio Azteca, described the achievement as a major milestone for an ageing facility, noting that some areas previously lacked adequate ventilation and required significant modernisation to meet current standards.
Other venues had already achieved LEED certification prior to the tournament, including Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Since early 2024, additional stadiums have joined the list, including BMO Field in Toronto, Estadio BBVA in Mexico, AT&T Stadium in Texas, Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, Hard Rock Stadium in Florida, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, BC Place in Vancouver and Estadio Akron in Mexico.
Among the busiest venues, AT&T Stadium will host nine matches and achieved LEED Gold certification in March after more than $7 million in upgrades to HVAC systems, lighting and water efficiency, with consultants estimating a 16% reduction in overall energy use.
MetLife Stadium, which will host eight matches including the final, also reached LEED Gold status in May after implementing solar energy systems, energy-efficient lighting, hybrid and electric vehicle infrastructure and large-scale waste diversion programmes.
Despite the environmental concerns surrounding the tournament’s global footprint, stadium operators and organisers argue that the certification push demonstrates how large-scale sporting events can integrate sustainability measures into existing infrastructure while maintaining high-performance fan experiences.
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