2026 World Cup: big, beautiful but costly for fans and the planet

What happens when sporting success comes at an environmental cost?The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the biggest in history, with more teams, more matches and more fans travelling from around the world.Dr Chris McMillan from School of Social Sciences joins our media adviser Julianne Evans to explore the intersection of sport, commercialism and climate change. He discusses the climate impact of mega sporting events, the commercial forces driving the expansion of the tournament, and the political complexities around hosting the World Cup across three countries. He also reflects on how we should reconnect with the excitement, hope and sense of community that sport brings us.