Club World Cup projects sustainable stadiums and need for climate durability

The FIFA Club 2025 World Cup has made headlines for more than football. Elite representations have appeared, but much of the projector has delays caused by thunderstorms and thunderstorms of lightning, prosperity Concerns from coaches and players, participation elements and questions about commercial integrity.

In terms of weather, climate and sustainability, the tournament has delivered a critical awakening call in front of the Men’s 2026 World Cup, which takes place in the US as well as in Mexico and Canada in the same summer. Experts have urged FIFA to make precautionary decisions on the protection of players, fans and the integrity of competition as the risks of the climate are stepping up. Ideas include adapting to matching times and even changing games if there is a repetition of the heat and weather disorders they are experiencing this year.

“From thermal-psychological perspective, for health and performance reasons, I would like to start games as early as possible”, Professor of Human and Applied Physiology at the University of Portsmouth, Professor Mike Tipton communal recently. “It’s not beyond the realm that the races have to go to quarters and not half,” he continued.

Union of World Fifpro players has shared similar thoughts, supportive For more frequent cooling breaks and longer half-time breaks. “Half a 15 -minute year may not be enough to reduce core temperature. communal The medical director of Dr Vincent Goutebarg Fifpro. 31 of the first 54 matches in the Club World Cup had cooling breaks.

Although the race times will not be announced until later this year, the dates and positions of the games for the games of the 2026 men are already series. Caution is focused on how these spaces are reinforced, not only to adapt and be ready to fit a time of climate risks escalating, but to mitigate their long -term environmental impacts. The majority of the places that host the Club World Cup games this year, as well as the Men’s World Cup matches next year, have some efforts to sustain, but a number stands out because of their long -term, systematic and visible efforts.

Lincoln financial sector, Philadelphia

Lincoln Financial Field hosts Philadelphia Eagles, winners of the 2025 Super Bowl, hosted six FIFA Club World Cup Fixtures this year and will host six games for the Men’s 2026 World Cup.

“Sustainability is a key value of our business both in the field of Philadelphia Eagles and Lincoln Financial Field. It is a privilege to recently present our stages of viability at one of the greatest stages in sports,” vice president of fan experience and viability, Norman Vossschulte.

Advanced waste systems include a closed loop program that converts bottle covers into courtyards, reverse selling machines and extensive composting, achieving waste diversion rates of up to 99%. The installation of water refill stations and effective lighting has prevented more than a million plastic bottles from entering the landfill.

Lumen Field, Seattle

Lumen Field has also hosted six clubs in the Club World Cup and will welcome six more World Cups in 2026, including a US Men’s game. “Environmental sustainability is incorporated into all our departments and programs,” said Sustainable Development Manager for Lumen Field and Seattle Seahawks, Christy Briggs. As an organization they say they are willing take risks that are updated by the best science available and supported by those who have come before.

In the last 12 months, 98% of the building lighting has been turned into LEDs, which can be up to 80% more energy efficient than traditional bulbs. During the Club World Cup, Aluminum and Lumen Field separated to ensure where their recycling goes. “This is not part of our normal process and our team was able to do so while maintaining our other sorting. We hope not only to move on to the World Cup, but to incorporate it into our regular processes,” Briggs said.

“It is also important to influence our fans and communities. If our followers learn and adopt some element of environmental viability they learn from us, exponentially have a greater impact than our programs only,” he continued. Guidelines on how to become more fan Include the encouragement of fans in Carpool, donated unused clothes, selection of foods from local origin, and learn how to recycle and fertilize.

Mercedes -Benz Stage, Atlanta

The Mercedes -Benz Stadium is the only stadium to host the 2025 Club World Cup Games with a foldable roof. However, for the next summer World Cup, players and spectators will benefit from other stadiums in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles in the US, Vancouver and Toronto in Canada.

MBS has hosted six clubs in the Club World Cup, including Marquee rallies such as the PSG against Bayern Munich, and is planned as a key venue for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, which hosts eight races, including the semifinals.

Opened in 2017, it was the first professional sports venue to win the Leed Platinum certification, a standard awarded for sustainable design and construction. He also became the first to win the true platinum certification for zero waste practices, diverting over 90% of events and administrative waste. Viability characteristics Include over 4,000 solar panels on the top floor that produce enough energy to fully supply nine Falcons or 13 Atlanta matches.

Climate change intensifies global water cycleleading to more frequent and severe floods and drought. MBS is made to prepare for both. Raw water management includes an underground dome of 1.1 million gallons that captures and releases rainwater to prevent floods in neighboring communities. A 680,000 gallon tank harvested rainwater used for irrigation of outdoor areas, this and various water maintenance efforts have reduced water use by almost 50%.

Adam Fullerton, Vice President of Business at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, recently told me that during major world events such as the Club World Cup and the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2026, they “double” in these efforts. “Hosting visitors from all over the world is an incredible price and we want every fan experience to reflect our commitment to reducing landfill waste, limit carbon footprint and lead to systematic change,” he shared. “Sustainability is not just a priority during everyday businesses. It is integrated into how we prepare and deliver the greatest events in the world.”

Metlife Stadium, New Jersey

Hosted the final for the 2025 World Cup and in 2026 the World Cup World Cup, the Metlife Stadium also hosted seven additional matches this year and five next year. The stadium has no shelter, so the thermal exposure to spectators and players intensifies, especially when it is competing with the 102 -degree temperatures they experienced in June.

An UNFCCC Sports Sports Program for Climate Action Framework, the stadium works Net-Zero by 2040. Its environmental efforts include the production of on -the -spot solar energy, water saving lighting and recycling programs. It has applied a hybrid and electric vehicle infrastructure and deflects and donates food and waste materials.

The stadium encourages fans to get involved in efforts, through cars and public transport, the green disconnection that prioritizes reuse and recycling and selection of local foods.

As the final whistle beats at the FIFA Club 2025 World Cup this weekend, business and environmental pressures on a big sports tournament have been exposed again. While the stadiums show the leadership of sustainability, heat delays, storm disorders, and players’ welfare concerns and fan experience emphasize the need for a tournament ready for the climate. With the Men’s World Cup of FIFA 2026 on the horizon, many of its races in the same venues, courses can offer a critical opportunity to re -examine planning, enhance sustainability and viability commitments. commitments.