The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) recent report, Sports for People and Planet, highlights sport’s growing global influence and potential to support healthier societies. However, it also warns that climate change and physical inactivity pose serious risks to the global sports industry — with football among the most exposed.

Here are some of the things we learnt:

Climate change is disrupting football now

Extreme heat, flooding, and air pollution are having a direct impact on football today across the world.

In the UK, adverse weather conditions cost community sport approximately £320 million each year in lost income and maintenance. By 2050, one in five UK stadiums are expected to be affected by flooding.

At the elite level, the risks are just as stark. Ten of the sixteen host venues for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup face very high heat stress, with most needing major changes just to remain playable.

Fewer active people means fewer fans

The report highlights the growing threat of physical inactivity. As fewer people play sport, grassroots participation declines. Over time, this weakens football’s foundations, reducing the number of future players, referees, fans and volunteers that the game depends on.

Climate impacts such as extreme heat, pollution, and limited access to clean water are already restricting opportunities to be active in many parts of the world. These pressures are being felt most acutely in Asia, where a large proportion of the world’s sporting equipment is produced — highlighting the vulnerabilities in football’s global supply chains.

where football can act

The report emphasises that the global football industry is not only affected by the climate crisis, but also contributes to it.

Professional teams change their kits every season, generating huge amounts of waste. In the UK alone, 950 sports shirts are sent to landfill every minute, which equates to 100,000 tonnes per year.

Fan travel is another major source of emissions. However, solutions do exist. During EURO 2024, initiatives offering fans free public transport reduced travel emissions by 25% compared to previous tournaments. Modelling also suggests that if fans of Premier League clubs halved their car travel, the energy saved could power 24,000 households for a year.

Many clubs and leagues are beginning to act. Liverpool’s “Red Way” strategy integrates sustainability initiatives into their football operations and community work. Spain’s La Liga requires teams to invest in renewable energy and long-term infrastructure, and one of their clubs, Athletic Club Bilbao have demonstrated how stadiums can also serve as community wellness spaces, supporting public health beyond match days.

The Sports for People and Planet report makes clear that sport is both vulnerable to climate change and growing physical inactivity, while also contributing to the systems driving them. For football specifically, the impacts are already visible — from disrupted matches and damaged pitches to declining participation at grassroots level. Prioritising participation and shifting towards greener infrastructure will be essential if the game is to protect its economic future and continue supporting public wellbeing.

READ THE REPORT