Climate threats to World Cup venues

New report projects $800 million in climate-related losses for FIFA World Cup venues by 2050

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Published: December 6, 2024
This Article was written by: Katie Hill - My Green Pod
climate change, extreme weather, football, money, sports

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Main image: Principality Stadium, Wales

The 2025 FIFA World Cup promises to bring unmatched fandom and competition to North and Central America for the first time since 1994.

However, new data from Climate X reveal that some of the world’s most iconic football stadiums, including those hosting the 2025 FIFA World Cup in North America, face significant financial losses by 2050 due to escalating climate threats.

Financial losses

Climate X analysed 37 stadiums, including all 12 venues for the 2025 FIFA World Cup in the United States and the 25 largest football venues in Europe.

Using Climate X’s Spectra platform, the research evaluated the impact of 10 climate hazards including flooding, wildfires, drought and extreme heat, under the high-emissions RCP 8.5 scenario.

The findings show a sharp increase in financial losses, growing from $130 million in 2020 to an estimated $800 million by 2050.

Key findings

Nearly 40% of total projected losses by 2050 are concentrated in just three venues with the highest Total Loss Percentage.

Surface flooding and extreme heat emerged as the most pervasive threats, with some venues facing combined annual losses equivalent to nearly 2% of their current replacement value.

While some European stadiums benefit from more temperate climates, US venues – especially those in coastal or high-heat areas – face significantly higher risks.

Risks for today and tomorrow

In recent years, Florida’s Inter&Co Stadium and Camping World Stadium ranked highest for hazard exposure, each scoring a 4 on Climate X’s scale.

Other high-risk venues included Lincoln Financial Field (Pennsylvania, USA), Principality Stadium (Wales, UK), Estadio Benito Villamarín (Spain) and TQL Stadium (Ohio, USA), all scoring a 3.

By 2050, hazard exposure intensifies, with Velodrome (France), Oaka Stadium (Greece), Hard Rock Stadium (Florida), Camping World Stadium (Florida), Inter&Co Stadium (Florida) and Estadio Benito Villamarín (Spain) scoring the highest at 4.

The data highlight a notable concentration of high-risk stadiums in the United States, particularly in Florida, where three of the top six venues are located.

‘This data is a stark reminder of the mounting threats climate change poses to the infrastructure underpinning global events. As we celebrate the world’s love for football, we must also confront the sobering reality that some of the sport’s most cherished venues are at risk. Stakeholders must take immediate action to safeguard these assets and ensure the sustainability of future events.

‘Football stadiums are more than sporting venues – they are economic and cultural linchpins for local communities. Rising climate risks could lead to increased repair costs, disruptions to events, and soaring insurance premiums. For host cities of the 2025 FIFA World Cup, these risks could have far-reaching consequences for their local economies.’

LUKKY AHMED
CEO of Climate X

Ranking risk

The research was conducted using Climate X’s Spectra platform, which assessed 37 FIFA stadiums for exposure to 10 major climate hazards, including surface flooding, tropical cyclones, wildfires and extreme heat.

The analysis covered a time frame from 2020 to 2050 under the high-emissions RCP 8.5 climate scenario.

Each stadium’s risk was ranked based on its total loss in dollars and percentages, comparing projected damages from climate hazards to the stadium’s current replacement cost and its known vulnerabilities.

Noting some adaptation measures may be unknown, meaning results could overestimate losses. Uncertainty ranges are significantly broader in 2050 versus present-day projections.