North America’s Fans Are Speaking: Football Can’t Ignore the Climate Crisis Any Longer
Football has always belonged to its fans — the storytellers, the heartbeat, the people who hold the game’s past while shaping its future. And as the climate crisis accelerates, supporters across North America are sending a message the football world can no longer afford to miss.
Ahead of the 2026 Men’s World Cup, we launched one of the largest climate-focused fan surveys in football history. Across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, more than 3,600 fans shared how climate change is already shaping the way they watch, play, and experience the game — and what they expect football to do about it.
The results reveal a sport at a turning point. Fans feel the disruption. They want leadership. And they’re ready for football to step up.
Football Is Already Feeling the Heat
Across all three host nations, fans are clear: extreme heat, wildfire smoke, flooding, and dangerous pitch conditions are already affecting football.
88% of Mexican fans, and 81% of fans in the U.S. and Canada, say extreme heat is already impacting players.
Over half of fans in Mexico and the U.S. (and 40% in Canada) have had matches disrupted by climate-linked events.
But here’s the gap: Despite these lived experiences, far fewer fans recognise these disruptions as climate impacts. Only 36% of U.S. fans, 31% of Canadians, and 48% of Mexicans have thought seriously about how climate change could affect football.
Fans are feeling the symptoms but the story isn’t being told clearly enough. That disconnect slows action, weakens urgency, and holds back the sport’s ability to adapt.
A Turning Point in Expectation
What was once a niche conversation has become a mainstream mandate. Fans aren’t waiting for perfection — they want honesty, responsibility, and leadership:
90%+ want elite football to help protect grassroots pitches.
86–98% back players speaking publicly about climate change.
Over 85% support football investing in community-level climate adaptation.
71% of Mexican, 57% of U.S., and 52% of Canadian fans say football must act on climate change overall.
Fans Back Action That Protects Communities
The policies fans support most are clear, practical, and locally grounded:
92% support protecting grassroots pitches.
87–98% back community adaptation projects.
Half or more support climate-transparent clubs, including publishing decarbonisation plans.
And when clubs do step up? 87–98% of fans say they’d feel proud. In Mexico, 80% say climate leadership would make them feel closer to their club. Climate action isn’t a risk; it’s a chance to strengthen the social fabric of football.
The World Cup Must Lead
Fans across the host nations see 2026 as a generational opportunity:
96% of Mexican, 90% of Canadian, and 87% of U.S. fans believe the World Cup should be a global role model for sustainability.
They want a tournament that protects players, protects communities, and sets a standard the rest of sport can follow.
This is the largest climate-focused football sentiment study ever conducted in North America. And its verdict is unmistakable:
The climate crisis is changing football and fans expect football to change in response.
Stay tuned as we track how these attitudes evolve in the lead-up to 2026. The conversation is just beginning — and fans are ready to lead it.
We are kicking off a World Cup climate conversation like never before. Click below to download the report, and stay tuned by following our social media and signing up to our newsletter to hear more about our campaign from now until the tournament.