PITCHES IN PERIL:
A LANDMARK CLIMATE REPORT
AHEAD OF THE 2026 WORLD CUP
Elite players, climate leaders, and grassroots organisations are rallying behind Pitches in Peril, the first global climate risk report for football revealing how climate change is threatening the game from World Cup stadiums to community pitches.
The report, created by Football For Future and Common Goal in partnership with Jupiter Intelligence and supported by the CO₂ Foundation, offers unprecedented analysis of how rising heat, flooding, and drought will reshape the places we play.
With data spanning 16 World Cup 2026 stadiums, future venues for 2030 and 2034, and 18 grassroots pitches tied to football legends including Messi, Salah, and Pelé, the findings mark a turning point for football’s role in the climate crisis.
Pitches in Peril is more than a study, it is a call to action. By translating climate science into football’s language, it gives the world’s most popular sport the clarity it needs to act, protect its foundation, and safeguard the game for future generations
Football is already on the frontline of the climate crisis. From flooded stadiums in Texas and Florida to unsafe heat in Mexico City, extreme weather is putting the future of the game at risk. Grassroots pitches where every legend took their first steps are even more vulnerable, especially in the Global South where resources for adaptation are scarce.
Key findings show:
14 of 16 World Cup 2026 stadiums already exceed safe-play thresholds for major climate hazards, with nearly 90% projected to face unplayable heat by 2050.
Two-thirds of grassroots pitches where icons like Messi and Salah grew up will face unsafe or unplayable heat conditions by mid-century.
By 2050, Troost-Ekong’s childhood pitch in Nigeria will endure nearly five months of unplayable heat annually.
Tim Cahill’s pitch in Sydney faces flood depths up to 7 metres during extreme events.
The report also captures the voice of football communities: a 3,600-person fan survey across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico found 96% of Mexican, 90% of Canadian, and 87% of U.S. fans believe the World Cup should be a global role model for climate leadership.
Professional players are joining the call. From World Cup winners to grassroots heroes, a landmark group of male footballers have spoken out for the first time, echoing the leadership already shown by nearly 50 women players during the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
What They’re Saying About Pitches in Peril,
Elliot Arthur-Worsop, Football For Future Founder: “Nothing is more important than protecting our planet, and no cultural phenomenon is more powerful than football… Every club, player, fan and organisation has a role to play.”
Jérémy Houssin, Common Goal: “This report equips community organisations and elite football alike with the tools to face one of humanity’s greatest challenges: climate change.”
Karen Wolfgang, CO₂ Foundation: “Catalysing awareness of extreme weather impacts lights the spark for ambitious action to protect the places we love — and the places we play.”
With the 2026 World Cup set to be the biggest tournament in history, Pitches in Peril provides football with a once-in-a-generation opportunity: to lead on climate action, protect the pitches that raised us, and keep the beautiful game alive for generations to come.