Pitches in Peril: Climate Risks Threaten Football
New Report published by Football for Future and Common Goal
To read the full report click here
A new climate-risk report published by Football for Future and Common Goal warns that the 2026 FIFA World Cup could be the last of its kind in North America without urgent climate action.
Pitches in Peril - produced in collaboration with climate risk and resilience analytics firm Jupiter Intelligence - also shows that the grassroots pitches where World Cup legends learned their trade are already facing the devastating effects of climate change.
Common Goal members Juan Mata, Serge Gnabry, Jessie Fleming, and Alexei Rojas, as well as USMNT player Mark McKenzie, have all responded to the findings, calling for action across the football community.
“As someone from Spain, I can’t ignore the reality of the climate crisis,” said Mata.
“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 delivers the first IPCC-aligned climate risk assessment of all 2026 World Cup venues, alongside 2030 and 2034 host venues, as well as the childhood pitches of players such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
It also highlights the demand for action, with a survey of 3,600 fans across North America showing overwhelming support for football to lead on sustainability.
Its publication follows a summer of record-breaking temperatures, when Club World Cup conditions were described by players as ‘impossible’, and experts suggested 9am kick-offs for 2026 to avoid the worst of the heat.
Mark McKenzie, defender for Toulouse and the US Men’s National Team, said: “As a player the pinnacle of the sport is to represent your country at a World Cup, particularly when it’s on home soil.
“Next year’s tournament will be the biggest ever held, and with that comes the opportunity to make this the greatest sporting celebration ever from a sustainability perspective.
“This report can serve as a true turning point for football to step up and fulfil its potential as a catalyst for climate action.”
Findings in Brief:
2026 World Cup stadiums - 10 of 16 already breach safe-play heat limits, with nearly 90% expected to require adaptation by 2050.
Grassroots pitches - every pitch analysed has already passed unplayability thresholds for hazards including heat, flooding, drought, or wildfires.
By 2050, two-thirds of the childhood pitches of Messi, Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah, and Kylian Mbappé will be too hot to play.
In the Global South, players already face seven times more unplayable heat days than those in the Global North.
Fans - in the largest climate-focused football survey ever conducted in North America, more than 90% of 3,600 fans said the World Cup should lead on sustainability, while over half reported experiencing climate-related match disruptions.
Player voices from across the game
Serge Gnabry, who is said:
"The climate crisis is hitting hard. The report makes it clear that rising temperatures and extreme weather are threatening young people’s ability to play safely.
“That’s why we need to come together to protect these spaces and ensure every child can grow up in a safe, healthy environment.”
Jessie Fleming, captain of Canada and midfielder for Portland Thorns, highlighted the urgency:
“It is scary to think that nearly every World Cup stadium will face unsafe playing conditions by 2050.
“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.
“Grassroots pitches are where we grow as people and communities. Football must stand up for these communities.”
Alexei Rojas, Arsenal goalkeeper, pointed to the long-term stakes:
“Two-thirds of grassroots pitches - where legends grew up playing - will exceed safe-heat thresholds by 2050.
“We have to act now to minimise the effects of climate change. If we don’t, future generations of players may never have the chance to develop into the stars we see today.”
The Common Goal perspective
For Jérémy Houssin, Environmental Sustainability Lead at Common Goal, the findings underline the urgency for collective action:
“Climate change is no longer a distant threat — it’s already reshaping football.
“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.”
Football for Future on what’s at stake:
Elliot Arthur-Worsop, Founding Director of Football for Future, added:
“If rising heat and floods make those spaces unsafe, we’re not just losing pitches – we’re undermining the very foundation of football’s future.”