By: Eric Czerwonka, Follow South Jersey Community Journalist
The World Cup will be back in action once again this summer. This will be the 23rd installment of the world’s best-known sporting event.
However, this year’s tournament is significantly larger than previous World Cups. Games will be split into 16 cities in three countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
New Jersey is looking to be a major transportation hub, as it sits right in between two major venues that FIFA will be using. One being the Lincoln Financial Field, located in Philadelphia. The other being MetLife Stadium, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which is also where the final will be played.
With this being the case, there now come environmental issues.
The last World Cup in 2022 that took place in Qatar, generated around 3.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, reported by FIFA.
The tournament will generate more than nine million tonnes of carbon dioxide, reported by the Scientist for Global Responsibility (SGR). Out of the 22 editions of the World Cup, this specific rendition is expected to be the “most climate-damaging.”
In an article written by BBC Sport, an assistant professor in sport ecology at the University of Toronto, Dr. Madeleine Orr, says FIFA has missed the mark of what they originally promised.
“It’s completely misaligned with the promises (FIFA) have made publicly to reduce emissions,” says Dr Orr. “At this point, it’s damage control.”
Rowan University Sports Communication and Media major, Keegan Thompson, is a soccer fan. Thompson actively roots for Newcastle United, a team in the Premier League, which is the highest level of English football.
“It’s one of those sports that has such a global appeal to it,” said Thompson. “I’m excited for it.”
However, Thompson says he understands how fans who are traveling to the games must feel.
“It will be a lot of travel, and the travel will be a nightmare for a lot of people,” says Thompson. “Especially cause they’ve (FIFA) decided not to simplify things,… so not only do the teams have to travel, the fans do too.”
Some of the venues that are being used in the World Cup, such as the Lincoln Financial Field, have done their due diligence in ensuring a high standard of environmental responsibility.
In 2024, the U.S. Green Building Council awarded Lincoln Financial Field with a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum award. LEED is the most known green rating system in the world.
A lot goes into giving out this award, and the Linc has demonstrated that they’ve reduced individual vehicle usage, and focusing a lot more on different ways to get to the stadium. Or, their energy efficiency, as they have on-site renewable energy.
Stefanie Young, the vice president of client solutions at USGBC, says that FIFA has been working with all the venues to ensure that each stadium is addressing the issue in some way.
Even if some of the stadiums are in a more remote location, there are still ways that reducing carbon emissions is possible.
“They have a bit more challenges,” said Young. “There are still ways that they can encourage the use of shuttles, or carpooling.”
While Thompson remains excited for the World Cup’s return, he says his enthusiasm is tempered by concern.
“I’m really excited for it,” says Thompson. “There’s just so many issues leading up to it that I’m very worried about.”
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