Sliced: The Potential Role of Football in Climate Finance

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Now that there’s a lull in football for the next few weeks, I’ve had quite a bit of free time on my hands during the evenings…90 minutes, more or less, to be exact. With the Women’s Euro Finals behind us (and I am still stinging a little from Spain’s narrow loss to England), and with the major European leagues still gearing up for the season, I’ve found myself thinking more deeply about things beyond the pitch, especially about football’s place in the climate conversation. And yes, while Spain was just named No. 1 in the world by FIFA, which softens the blow a bit, I still really wanted to see them cement their dominance with that win.

Last month, I had the chance to attend my first match in Austria – FC Salzburg vs. SK Brann at Red Bull Arena for the Champions League Second Round Qualifiers. It wasn’t a high-stakes match because Salzburg already had the series in the bag, but standing in the crowd, listening to the chants echo through the stadium, I was reminded of how massive and powerful football really is. It’s not just a game. It’s a global force – economically, culturally, emotionally. Fans travel across countries and continents to support their teams. Sponsors and TV rights deals funnel billions into the sport. Clubs, leagues, and international bodies wield serious influence. And increasingly, that influence is being called upon in the climate space.

That’s part of what led me here – wondering how the beautiful game fits into climate finance. Football touches almost every corner of the globe. Its reach is unmatched. No matter where I am in the world, I inevitably walk by someone wearing a Real Madrid kit, and naturally, I holler “Hala Madrid!” When something as culturally embedded and resource-intensive as football starts talking about climate change, people listen. And they should because the environmental footprint of the sport, especially during major international events, is significant. Think of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be played across the entirety of North America with more teams than ever before. That means more travel, more infrastructure, more emissions.

To their credit, organizations like FIFA have started engaging with climate finance tools to mitigate their footprint. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was declared “climate neutral” thanks to a combination of emissions tracking and carbon offsets. They even funded reforestation and clean energy projects. But that move also drew major criticism. Many called it greenwashing – overstating climate claims while ignoring the underlying emissions generated from massive stadium construction, global air travel, and air conditioning open-air venues in the desert. It’s an unfortunate situation because on one hand, a global institution is voluntarily taking climate action. On the other hand, the integrity of that action is heavily questioned with earned criticism.

This tension lies at the heart of football’s climate finance story. On paper, carbon offsets and sustainability investments are key tools in fighting climate change as they are legitimate mechanisms in the climate finance toolbox. But they only work when the emissions reductions and removals are real, additional, and verifiable. That’s the challenge. It’s not just about writing a check to a carbon project and slapping a “green” label on the tournament. It’s about making sure those funds lead to tangible, long-term benefits for both the planet and the communities affected by the sport’s footprint.

Still, I believe football holds incredible potential to become a climate finance catalyst. Imagine if clubs and leagues not only offset their emissions but also invested in climate resilience projects for vulnerable communities. Or if they used their platforms to educate millions of fans on sustainable travel, diet, or energy use. Football’s visibility and emotional pull could turn abstract climate ideas into everyday action. It could support innovative financial tools like green bonds, impact investing, or even climate-linked sponsorships where success is measured in both goals scored and emissions avoided.

I know I’ll be thinking about this more as the 2026 World Cup draws closer. There’s a lot of potential, a lot of risk, and a lot of responsibility. But I’m hopeful. I’ll probably write about it again a couple of more times before the year’s out, and I’d love to hear from others who are exploring similar questions. Because if we’re serious about using football (or sports in general) as a force for good, we have to look beyond the scoreboard and into the systems it can influence. The beautiful game might just help build a better planet – but only if we play it right.

The Environmental Defense Fund, in partnership with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify a fund manager for the groundbreaking Dairy Impact Fund – a first-of-its-kind blended finance vehicle designed to accelerate the adoption of methane-reducing practices on dairy farms.

With an initial $10 million commitment from a lead investor and additional fundraising underway, the fund will offer low-cost, revolving loans paired with incentives from dairy companies to help farmers overcome financial barriers to sustainability. By partnering with farmers’ existing lenders and dairy buyers, the fund aims to streamline access to tailored financing while supporting the U.S. dairy sector—including members of the Dairy Methane Action Alliance—in meeting their methane reduction targets. Proposals are due by September 1, and we encourage you to share this opportunity with fund managers in your network.

To access the RFP, click here.

At Gordian Knot Strategies, we’re building a global database of impact investors to help mobilize $1 billion annually in climate finance by 2030. If your organization is interested in funding climate or environmental projects, we invite you to fill out our Impact Investor Information Form. Your contact details will remain confidential, and we’ll only connect you with aligned opportunities. There is no fee to participate.

To access the form click here.

Interested in connecting with us on climate finance, impact investment, climate solutions strategy, or carbon credit development and commercialization? Book a 30-minute conversation with Gordian Knot Strategies here to discuss how we can support your goals.

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