FIFA's "carbon-neutral" claim for the 2022 Qatar World Cup: Swiss Commission for Fairness upholds five complaints (2023)
Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.
- The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
On 7 June 2023 the Swiss Commission for Fairness (SLK) announced that it had upheld all five complaints, from Switzerland, France, Belgium, the UK and the Netherlands, against FIFA's claims that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was climate- or carbon-neutral, and recommended that FIFA stop making them. It found FIFA had not proved the claims accurate. The SLK's press release states that the decision is legally binding; Reuters reported that the commission issues recommendations, not state-enforceable judgments.
Figure from FIFA's ex-ante report as recorded by the SLK, 7 June 2023. The SLK found FIFA had not proved that these emissions had been offset and had no plan to define how it would offset further emissions.
Status As of 13 November 2025: the SLK decision of June 2023 is on record; a Berlin Regional Court ruling against FIFA's statements, not final, was reported on 13 November 2025.
What happened
FIFA promoted the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as the first carbon-neutral tournament ("Première Coupe du Monde neutre en carbone" in the decision's quotation of its website). Complainants from Switzerland, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, among them Klima-Allianz Schweiz, brought complaints to the Swiss Commission for Fairness (SLK) in late 2022, saying that FIFA's statements gave a false and misleading impression that the tournament was climate-neutral or carbon-neutral before and during it.
On 7 June 2023 the SLK announced that its Second Chamber had upheld all five complaints. It found that FIFA had in some instances used absolute statements, that the burden of proof lay with the advertiser and that FIFA "was not able to provide proof that the claims were accurate during the proceedings as required by the SLK". FIFA had an ex-ante report calculate projected emissions of 3.63 million tonnes of CO2 on a provisional basis and said in its submissions that it had already compensated for an estimated 3.63 million tonnes in advance; the SLK said FIFA did not prove that these emissions had been offset and did not set out a plan to define how it would further offset emissions, and that it remained unclear whether the compensation would meet Swiss standards. It recommended that FIFA refrain in future from the contested claims, in particular that the tournament was climate- or carbon-neutral. The SLK press release states: "The decision is legally binding" (amended 3 July 2023). Reuters reported the same day that the commission issues recommendations but no state-enforceable judgments, and that FIFA said it was analysing the reasons for the recommendation and might appeal.
On 13 November 2025 Swissinfo reported, citing Keystone-SDA, that the Berlin Regional Court had ruled in a case brought by the German consumer federation vzbv that FIFA's statements on a "completely climate-neutral" tournament were misleading and must not be repeated; the ruling was not final.
- 2022The World Cup takes place in Qatar; FIFA promotes it as carbon-neutral
- 2022November: complaints from Switzerland, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium and the Netherlands are filed with the SLK against FIFA
- 20237 June: the SLK announces that its Second Chamber has upheld all five complaints and recommends that FIFA stop the claims
- 202513 November: Swissinfo reports a Berlin Regional Court ruling, not final, that FIFA's "climate-neutral" statements were misleading
What was said
“FIFA was not able to provide proof that the claims were accurate during the proceedings as required by the SLK”
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
FIFA was "not able to provide proof that the claims were accurate" and had set out no plan for the remaining offsets; the commission recommended that FIFA stop the claims.
Swiss Commission for Fairness (SLK), press releaseSaid in its submissions that it had already compensated for an estimated 3.63 million tonnes of CO2 in advance and repeatedly promised to offset fully the emissions calculated later (as recorded by the SLK).
Swiss Commission for Fairness (SLK), press release"The decision is legally binding" (press release, amended 3 July 2023).
Swiss Commission for Fairness (SLK), press releaseThe commission issues recommendations, but no state-enforceable judgments; complainants usually implement its recommendations voluntarily.
Swissinfo (Reuters)How it looked
Shown
- The 2022 World Cup in Qatar as the first carbon-neutral tournament, with emissions to be reduced and fully offset; absolute statements about climate- and CO2-neutrality before and during the tournament, as described by the SLK.
Recorded
- The SLK's Second Chamber upheld all five complaints; FIFA was not able to provide proof that the claims were accurate and did not prove that the 3.63 million tonnes of CO2 estimated in the ex-ante report had been offset.
- The SLK recommended that FIFA refrain from the contested claims in future, in particular that the 2022 World Cup was climate- or carbon-neutral, unless it can prove with generally accepted methods the full calculation and the full offsetting of all CO2 emissions caused by the tournament.
In nature's name
Promised
- “the first carbon-neutral World Cup ("Première Coupe du Monde neutre en carbone")” — FIFA Swiss Commission for Fairness (SLK), decision text in French with party names redacted
What was measured
FIFA's claim concerned emissions compensated through offsets. The SLK found FIFA could not prove the claims accurate and had not proved that the estimated emissions had been offset. No independent measurement of the compensated emissions is on record in the sources reviewed.
Findings on record
- Registry action Swiss Commission for Fairness (SLK), a self-regulatory body of the advertising and communications industry (2023-06-07) · Case No 188/22, Second Chamber; five complaints upheld; FIFA recommended to refrain from the claims: “Les plaintes sont approuvées. Il est recommandé à la partie défenderesse de renoncer à l’avenir aux allégations contestées” original in French Swiss Commission for Fairness (SLK), decision text in French with party names redacted
Who gained
Reached nature or the ground
Gained elsewhere
Responses on record
- fifa (2023-06-07): Said it was "fully aware" of the environmental impact its events have and was making "substantial efforts to tackle those impacts"; said it was analysing the reasons for the SLK's recommendation and may appeal (Reuters, via Swissinfo). · Swissinfo (Reuters)
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2022-11–2023-06-07Claimant wonComplaints to the Swiss Commission for Fairness against FIFA's "carbon-neutral" World Cup claims (No 188/22)Swiss Commission for Fairness (SLK), Second Chamber · Regulatory · Complainants from Switzerland, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands → FIFA
All five complaints upheld; FIFA recommended to refrain from the claims that the 2022 World Cup was climate- or carbon-neutral. Decision date not stated; announced 7 June 2023. Swiss Commission for Fairness (SLK), press release
- Claimant wonVerbraucherzentrale Bundesverband v FIFA (climate-neutral tournament statements)Berlin Regional Court (Landgericht Berlin) · Civil · Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv) → FIFA
Reported by Swissinfo (Keystone-SDA) on 13 November 2025: the court found statements on a "completely climate-neutral" tournament misleading; the ruling was not final. Swissinfo (Keystone-SDA)
Insurers
What nature saw
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Accounts
Record
- None on record FIFA's own response to the decision beyond its statement to Reuters that it was analysing the reasons and might appeal: not on record in the sources reviewed.
- None on record The sources reviewed do not say which offset projects or credits FIFA used, or what emissions were still to be offset.
- None on record The date of the SLK decision is not stated in the decision text opened.
- Insufficient Unconfirmed: a French complaint to the advertising jury (JDP) in 2022 is listed as dismissed.
- None on record The Berlin Regional Court ruling is known only from a news report; its date and text are not among the sources reviewed.
Did the harm stop?
Not established in the sources reviewed.
Who paid?
Not established in the sources reviewed.
Sources
Press and investigations
- Regulator: FIFA made false claims about carbon neutrality at World CupSwissinfo (Reuters) · 2023-06-07
- FIFA-Werbung für «klimaneutrale» WM 2022 laut Urteil irreführendSwissinfo (Keystone-SDA) · 2025-11-13
Communities and civil society
- Grosser Erfolg: FIFA schuldig wegen GreenwashingKlima-Allianz Schweiz (a complainant) · 2023-06-07
Standard-setters and registries
- Swiss Commission for Fairness upholds complaints against FIFASwiss Commission for Fairness (SLK), press release · 2023-06-07
- Verfahren/Procédures/Procedure a) N° 188/22 (Messages publicitaires), Deuxième ChambreSwiss Commission for Fairness (SLK), decision text in French with party names redacted ·
Connected cases
- Brazil REDD+ forest credits: Suruí project suspended; 2024 Amazonas concessions probed Brazil · 2013–2026
- FIFA (Organisation) — here: Made the carbon-neutral claim for the 2022 World Cup; there: bought Suruí credits in 2014 to offset World Cup emissions
- Indigenous land registration cut Amazon deforestation; recent Brazilian rulings reverse course Brazil · 2005–2025
- FIFA (Organisation) — here: Made the carbon-neutral claim for the 2022 World Cup; there: bought Paiter Suruí credits for 2014 World Cup emissions