The Sustainability Strategy of the FIFA World Cup

When the FIFA World Cup arrives in Dallas this June, the city won’t just be hosting nine international matches – it will be testing the boundaries of what sustainability can look like on a global scale.

At the heart of that challenge is Meghna Tare, Chief Sustainability Officer for FIFA Host City Dallas. With a background spanning environmental science, chemistry and sustainable management, and a parallel role as CSO at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), her mission is to ensure that the world’s most-watched sporting event leaves a lasting, positive footprint on the region.

“I’ve always worked in this field,” says Meghna. “To bring that experience to something on this scale – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Her tenure at UTA, a Tier 1 research university and innovation hub, gave her a foundation not only in data-driven environmental practice, but also in community engagement – skills that have translated directly into the collaborative approach driving Dallas’s sustainability strategy.

A regional effort on a global stage

The Dallas–Fort Worth region will be one of the most active World Cup areas in North America, hosting more matches than any other US city. Organisers expect 3.8 million visitors across two months, generating a projected US$2.1bn economic impact.

That scale, says Meghna, makes sustainability “a logistical challenge and an opportunity for transformation.”

Her approach emphasises partnerships between municipalities, nonprofits, educational institutions and residents. Over 15 years, she’s built a network of more than 150 stakeholders who now underpin Host City Dallas’s sustainability plan.

“Community collaboration is our backbone,” she explains. “I know their strengths and their limitations, and that helps build realistic, impactful programmes.”

Higher education as a catalyst for change

Meghna sees universities as incubators of sustainability. With more than US$150m spent annually on research, UTA’s interdisciplinary work – from climate science to AI – plays an integral role in advancing knowledge and workforce development.

“Higher education drives the sustainability conversation,” she says. “Our students are the future workforce, and research connects innovation with real-world outcomes.”

It’s a theme that links her dual responsibilities – cultivating local partnerships for the World Cup and shaping the next generation of sustainability leaders.

“This has been a privilege,” Meghna says. “Not everyone gets to be part of something this significant. I just want Dallas to shine on the world stage – and do it responsibly.”

Setting the standard for sustainable sport

Globally, FIFA has faced scrutiny over the environmental impacts of its tournaments, but Dallas’s model reflects a shift toward measurable progress over one-off pledges. By aligning municipal government, academia, and civic groups, Meghna’s team is framing sustainability as both practical and inspirational.

“The goal isn’t to greenwash,” she stresses. “It’s to put our best foot forward.”

Her approach is anchored in education. 

“Sustainability means different things to different people,” she says. “To a student, it’s recycling. To a business leader, it’s energy costs. My job is to connect those perspectives.”

The seven pillars of sustainability

Each FIFA host city was required to produce a formal sustainability plan. 

“We started by asking – what can we do well with the resources we have?” Meghna explains. “The challenge was to make each pillar tangible.”

That thinking has translated into a wide array of initiatives. A Green Ambassador certification trains North Texas citizens on the principles of sustainability, equipping volunteers to educate others on recycling, biodiversity and climate impacts.

For biodiversity, Dallas has partnered with the Trinity River Audubon Center, a local non-profit, on a nature challenge using the iNaturalist and eBird mobile apps to crowd-source species data.

“We want people to actively notice their environment,” Meghna says. “Every photo and entry adds to global knowledge.”

Benchmarking with data and technology

Meghna is a self-described data enthusiast. Her mantra echoes management consultant Peter Drucker’s famous dictum: what you can’t measure, you can’t manage.

At UTA, she’s applied that philosophy through partnerships with Oracle, developing a public sustainability dashboard using Oracle Analytics. The system tracks metrics including energy usage, water consumption, food composting and ride-sharing.

“Technology gives visibility,” she says. “We’ve even piloted AI-driven operational intelligence tools at UTA to identify efficiency opportunities – early results show potential 50% reductions in energy use.”

Meghna believes AI will soon become a defining tool for large-event sustainability: “AI will drive future efficiency work – from energy use to crowd flow. We’re just at the beginning.”

Managing scale and perception

Meghna admits the scope has been daunting: “It’s like hosting nine Super Bowls.”

However, she’s quick to note the strong public response and absence of resistance. “No one in Dallas has said, ‘we’re here for football, not the planet,’” she says. “Once people understand the impact, they want to contribute.”

That support has been nurtured through a Sustainability Committee, bringing together city officials, businesses and nonprofits every two months. The group serves as both a coordination hub and a platform to share ongoing progress.

“It’s all about transparency and inclusion,” Meghna continues. “The more people understand what we’re doing, the prouder they feel to be part of it.”

Greening the game beyond the stadium

Sporting events can be enormous sources of waste, water consumption and emissions – but for Dallas, even fan experiences are being redesigned with sustainability in mind.

The city’s Fan Festival, held at Fair Park across 35 days, will integrate extensive waste diversion, composting and recycling programmes, underpinned by volunteer education.

“We trained volunteers in sustainability and worked with contractors to ensure we reduce plastics and food waste,” says Meghna. “It’s where most visitors will gather, so it’s vital we do it right.”

A citywide Community Cleanup Challenge adds a competitive incentive. Between March and May 2026, more than 16 municipalities are tackling litter collection in rivers, lakes and parks, with results tracked on a public dashboard. The city with the greatest impact will receive formal recognition during the World Cup’s Fan Festival.

“Within two hours at one of our first events, we removed 6,000 pounds of waste,” Meghna reveals. “People love competition – and now that competition serves the planet.”

Building legacy beyond 2026

Much of Meghna’s focus extends well past the final whistle. She is insistent that Dallas uses the World Cup as a foundation for future sustainable mega-events – including the 2031 Women’s World Cup, expected to return to the region.

“This can’t be just for two months,” she explains. “What we do now must set the stage for future events. It’s about legacy and learning.”

Success, she says, will be measured not only in operational metrics, but also in lasting public awareness. “For me, it’s about how well we bring the community together – did we educate them, and did we reduce our footprint?”