The scorching heat of the World Cup is being matched only by the growing urgency of climate activists as they ramp up pressure on FIFA to dump its Saudi Aramco sponsorship. The world's largest corporate carbon emitter is under intense scrutiny, with protesters set to descend upon major sporting venues across North America on Sunday. Backed by a host of current and former pro athletes, this campaign is not just about the World Cup – it's about leveraging the power of sport for positive change.
David Wheeler, a vocal advocate for the cause, believes FIFA should harness its influential platform to drive real impact. "The sport we love has an unparalleled ability to shape public opinion and inspire action," he said. On Sunday, five 2026 World Cup venues will be targeted alongside six other major sporting arenas, with chants and signs demanding an end to fossil fuel sponsorships.
Brent Suter, a pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels, echoed Wheeler's sentiments, highlighting the World Cup's global reach as the perfect opportunity to spread awareness about climate change. In May, a group of health experts, climate scientists, and sports specialists sent a damning open letter to FIFA, warning that its Aramco sponsorship deal creates a clear conflict of interest with protecting player welfare.
Zan Dubin, lead organiser for the day of action, is resolute in her goal: getting FIFA to drop Aramco and all other oil and gas sponsorship agreements. "In this climate crisis, advertising fossil fuels is simply unacceptable," she argued. Protests will take place outside World Cup matches at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, with further demonstrations planned near 2026 World Cup venues in New Jersey, Seattle, and Dallas.
FIFA has remained tight-lipped on the upcoming protests, but it did defend its partnership with Aramco in 2024. "We value our commercial partners, including Aramco," a spokesperson said, adding that sponsorship revenues are reinvested into the sport at all levels. Aramco's CEO has also touted the benefits of their World Cup deal, suggesting it can "harness the power of sport to make an impact around the globe" and promote positive societal development.
But Sunday's actions won't stop at FIFA – other sports organisations with ties to fossil fuel sponsors will also be targeted. In Los Angeles and Cleveland, demonstrators will urge local MLB teams to end their affiliations with Phillips 66 and Marathon Petroleum, while in Portland, protesters will call on the Portland Timbers to terminate their sponsorship deal with Banck.