The biggest climate cost of a World Cup or global concert tour may occur far from the stadium or stage. It begins when millions of fans board aircraft, drive long distances or book accommodation near the event. Audience travel could produce 82 percent of emissions linked to the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to an analysis led by University of Cambridge researchers. The tournament’s total footprint may reach 4.23 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. About 3.07 million tonnes would come from international travel alone. Intercity and local transportation would add another 411,000 tonnes, bringing travel’s total contribution to roughly 3.48 million tonnes. The researchers also calculated that expanding the competition from 32 to 48 teams added about 594,000 tonnes of emissions, a rise of around 16 percent. The additional climate damage was valued at approximately $110 million. Fan Travel Drives the Enormous Carbon Footprint of World Cups and Concert Tours. (CREDIT: Shutterstock) “Effective climate strategies for mega-events like the World Cup go well beyond reducing operational emissions at venues, as this is only …