Will RichardsonHead of EcoSystems and Networks, 51toCarbonZero · Sustainability & Net-Zero Strategy Leader | Helping £100m+ Enterprises Cut Climate Risk & Operating Costs | Head of EcoSystems & Networks | Host of Sustainability Solved Podcast

This Isn't A Football Tournament #football #tournament

4 Jul 2026 · 0 min

Watch on YouTube

0:22

In this brief video, Will Richardson warns that the recent shift from artificial to natural grass pitches for major football events, such as the World Cup, is creating a hidden water crisis. He explains that North American stadiums now require tens of thousands of liters of water each day to maintain these grass fields, a demand that strains regions already experiencing drought. Richardson urges organizations that host large-scale events to expand their sustainability metrics beyond carbon emissions and begin measuring the water footprint of their activities.

This is a water crisis dressed up as a football tournament. North American stadiums have ripped out their artificial pitches and replaced them with grass for the World Cup. The catch? Tens of thousands of liters of water per day, every day, in regions already running dry. If your organization runs a major event, ask one question: Have we measured the water footprint, not just the carbon footprint?