THE OFFICIAL HOME OF THE FIFA WORLD CUP 26 HOUSTON™
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
SUSTAINABILITY
STARTS WITH HOU
#PlayforthePlanetHTX
Houston recognizes its responsibility to deliver bold and innovative environmental leadership; the 2026 FIFA World Cup is our moment to elevate local environmental action on a global stage. Our focus is not just on the event but on enabling a lasting, positive legacy for Houston.
We have a detailed Environmental Sustainability Plan that aligns with FIFA’s sustainability standards and incorporates local resilience priorities in Houston’s communities. At its core, the plan features an Environmental Management System (EMS) guided by globally recognized best practices. This system will help provide accountability, transparency, and measurable progress across sustainability initiatives.
HOSPITALITY SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM
As we prepare to host visitors from around the globe, local hospitality leaders have a unique opportunity to shine — not just with service, but with sustainability. Whether you run a hotel, restaurant, catering company, coffee shop, or sports bar, the Hospitality Sustainability Toolkit is packed with practical ways to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and build a stronger, more resilient business.
Environmental sustainability in hospitality focuses on minimizing environmental impact while maximizing operational efficiency and cost savings. This guide has been designed to help reduce waste and improve efficiency. It breaks initiatives into low, medium, and high-effort actions, so businesses can start small and scale up over time.
READY TO TAKE ACTION?
EARN YOUR SUSTAINABLE HOSPITALITY BADGE.
The hospitality incentive program for sustainability is available to hotels, motels, and restaurants (cafes, bars, sit-down, fast food, food trucks) in the HGAC boundaries who implement specific actions from the toolkit. Points are assigned according to the type of action and anticipated commitment level: 1 (low effort), 2 (medium effort), 3 (hard effort), or 4 (certification). A minimum of 3 points is required for small businesses (defined as restaurants uniquely owned/operated or hotels/motels with less than 50 employees/contract employees) and 7 points for most businesses.
For those with qualifying existing practices, qualification for the incentive requires taking at least one new action, including expanding an existing one, unless already certified. Based on their points and certifications, businesses earn recognition at different levels and receive corresponding benefits, such as digital badges, listings on Houston 2026’s sustainable dining page, marketing collateral, and increased visibility through committee promotions.
This program also aligns with the Texas Certified Green Restaurant® Program, organized by the Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) and the Green Restaurant Association (GRA), to promote improved sustainability practices. Restaurants that achieve this certification can earn the 3-star badge. Click here for more information.
TO GET STARTED, FILL OUT THE PARTICIPATION FORM AND EARN YOUR BADGE!
ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN
HIGHLIGHTS
Sustainable Event Management: Houston will implement a sustainability management system for World Cup-related events, drawing from international best practices (e.g., ISO 20121). A sustainable events playbook will help capture lessons learned and be available to local stakeholders for future event planning.
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Legacy-Focused System: A sustainability management system will guide event planning and execution, leaving a blueprint for future events citywide.
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Tools & Tracking: Includes a sustainable events code of conduct, checklist, and knowledge-sharing templates.
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Risk Preparedness: Environmental risks will be integrated into emergency response plans, with appropriate education materials for visitors.
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Engagement: Local organizations and stakeholders will be invited to take part in various initiatives in the lead up to the 2026 events.
Energy and Climate
We are aiming to utilize 100% renewable electricity at key sites and to mitigate the scope 1 and 2 carbon footprint of the event. Houston also added innovation and resilience to our plan.
We hope to showcase:
Innovation in Action: Clean energy demonstrations at the Fan Fest or other innovations along the event’s “green corridor.”
Resilience: Our plan includes an emphasis on energy conservation and efficiency, heat mitigation, and nature-based solutions to climate impact.
Air, Water, & Nature
The plan highlights Houston’s green spaces and includes measures to mitigate impacts to flora or fauna. Additionally, legacy projects like the sustainable soccer field guidelines, resilience efforts, air quality summit, bayou clean-ups, and “green corridor” aim to address air and water quality and promote healthy ecosystems.
Low Carbon Transportation
Working with local stakeholders, we plan to promote a positive experience for residents and visitors across public transit, bike trails, pedestrian routes, and micro-mobility options. The Green Corridor aims to connect downtown, the Fan Festival in EaDo, and NRG Park, offering a safe, engaging, and memorable journey for visitors and a lasting legacy for residents. This initiative showcases Houston’s leadership in urban greening, low-carbon transport, innovation, and community resilience. Objectives include:
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Celebrating Houston’s story and progress across sustainability, mobility, and resilient infrastructure.
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Providing accessible routes between key venues.
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Reducing heat and enhancing public spaces through
shade, cooling, and nature-based features. -
Inspiring learning moments on local ecosystems, biodiversity, and innovation.
Waste Management &
Circular Economy
Our goal is to maximize value recovery and material capture at the Fan Festival through material and packaging strategies, reuse, recycling, composting, and similar measures. The hospitality toolkit also includes a focus on waste reduction and diverting material from landfill.
Cross-Cutting Themes
Youth and Schools: We have developed classroom toolkits, university participation opportunities, and sustainable soccer field guidelines to support youth engagement.
Education, Awareness, and Capacity-Building: Our aim is to tell Houston’s story on sustainability to visitors and residents and increase awareness on the role of our eco-systems in enabling sports and play.
Community and Stakeholder Engagement: Our hope is to build coalitions that last beyond the games and promote inclusion across our activities.
BACKGROUND
Developed collaboratively with public, private, educational, and nonprofit stakeholders, our Environmental Sustainability Plan reflects Houston’s unique context and long-term aspirations.
More than 100 stakeholders from city and county agencies, local businesses, environmental groups, and universities participated in workshops in August and September 2023 to identify local priorities. The Sustainability Committee was formed with representatives across these stakeholder groups to co-develop and submit the plan to FIFA. Feedback was received from FIFA in the first quarter of 2024 and the final version of the plan re-submitted. In the spring, technical working groups were formed to cover the key areas required in the plan: Climate & energy; low carbon transportation; air, water, and nature; and waste & circularity, in addition to cross-cutting themes. The working groups developed detailed action plans over the summer and fall of 2024, and these were consolidated into project implementation plans for 2025.
Efforts by the Sustainability Committee are volunteer and highlight the collaboration across our city and region. Sustainability Committee and stakeholder sessions are held regularly to advance the plan and provide updates to key stakeholders.
GET INVOLVED!
Whether you're a fan, business, student, or community leader passionate about environmental sustainability — this plan is for all of us.
Join Us:
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Take action - volunteer or contribute to a legacy project initiative
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Check out our Event Calendar for upcoming opportunities
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Explore our toolkits:
