March 3 – Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, a coalition of supporters has called on FIFA to end their sponsorship deal with Saudi Arabia’s Aramco and ban fossil fuel companies and other big polluters from sponsoring FIFA competitions.
With a petition, Dutch NGO Fossil Free Football and a series of supporters groups demand that FIFA reconsider its ties with the Saudi national oil company and develop a climate-responsible strategy for the game.
They railed again against Aramco attaching its name to the world federation and its sponsorship of FIFA’s flagship event, the World Cup where Aramco will enjoy major exposure. It’s also become a sponsor of Houston 2026, one of the World Cup’s host cities.
In a statement, the coalition said: “At a competition predicted to be impacted by extreme heat, instead of communicating positively about climate action, FIFA has given the world’s biggest billboard to the world’s biggest oil company.
“FIFA must ensure that it is a worthy showcase of the best of football and its values, for all those watching on globally. But instead, in 2026, FIFA has handed Saudi state oil company Aramco the privilege of promoting itself as a major tournament sponsor.”
FIFA has pledged to achieve a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2040 and is a signatory UN Sports for Climate Action Framework.
In 2024, however, FIFA unveiled a sponsorship agreement with Saudi Aramco covering the 2026 World Cup 2026 and the 2027 Women’s World Cup. That same year, more than 130 female professional players publicly opposed the partnership, citing concerns over climate change and human rights.
In 2025, a number of male professional players joined them in voicing similar objections. Last summer, Aramco was also a headline sponsor at the 32-team Club World Cup in the United States.
The Scottish Football Supporters Association, NUFC Fans Against Sportswashing, Everton Women Official Supporters Club and Green Gooners: Arsenal Fans for the Environment were among the supporter groups to sign the call led by Fossil Free Football.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, [email protected]