Climate activists are planning protests Sunday against FIFA's sponsorship deal with Saudi state-owned oil and gas giant Aramco at World Cup sites and fan zones across the country, according to organizers.
The main demonstration is set to take place outside Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium ahead of the Belgium-Iran match. Additional protests are planned at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami before a match there, as well as at fan sites in New Jersey, Seattle and Dallas.
Organizer Zan Dubin told POLITICO the protests aim to pressure FIFA to drop Aramco while calling attention to what she described as "sportswashing" — a practice of using sports events to improve the public image of oil companies whose products contribute to greenhouse gas emissions driving global temperature increases.
The Los Angeles protest is organized by local chapters of the Sierra Club and Third Act SoCal, with participation from Extinction Rebellion Lamenters and street-theater demonstrators dressed in sackcloth. The demonstration represents an extension of a campaign called Dodger Fans Against Fossil Fuels that has gathered nearly 30,000 signatures urging Dodgers owner Mark Walter to drop oil company Phillips 66 as a sponsor.
What the Left Is Saying
Climate activists argue that FIFA's partnership with Aramco contradicts the global urgency of addressing climate change. Dubin said fans are concerned about how oil company advertising becomes part of their World Cup memories, framing it as an attempt to normalize fossil fuel companies at major cultural events. More than 100 professional women's soccer players previously urged FIFA to drop the sponsorship deal, citing environmental and human rights concerns.
Environmental groups contend that Saudi Arabia's state-owned energy company using sports sponsorships to burnish its image undermines global climate efforts while the fossil fuel industry continues contributing to rising temperatures. The Sierra Club and Third Act SoCal say they are calling on FIFA to align its commercial partnerships with scientific consensus on climate action.
What the Right Is Saying
Supporters of the sponsorship arrangement argue that FIFA has the right to pursue commercial partnerships without external pressure. Business groups contend that international deals involving sovereign wealth funds and state-owned enterprises from allied nations represent legitimate economic activity. Some free-market advocates maintain that restricting corporate sponsorships based on their industry creates problematic precedent for sports governance.
Others suggest climate protesters should focus advocacy efforts through democratic channels rather than targeting private business arrangements. Defenders of the deal note that Aramco's partnership provides substantial revenue to support global soccer development programs and tournament operations.
What the Numbers Show
FIFA announced Aramco as a major worldwide partner in 2024, with sponsorship rights covering multiple tournaments including the 2026 Men's World Cup and the 2027 Women's World Cup. The Dodger Fans Against Fossil Fuels campaign has gathered approximately 30,000 signatures urging Dodgers owner Mark Walter to drop Phillips 66 as a sponsor. More than 100 professional women's soccer players have publicly urged FIFA to end its Aramco partnership.
Aramco's logo appears prominently in stadiums and on global match broadcasts during World Cup events. The sponsorship represents one of several major commercial deals FIFA has struck with energy companies, which critics say conflicts with sustainability commitments made by some tournament host cities.
The Bottom Line
The protests represent the latest escalation in ongoing tensions between climate advocates and sports organizations over fossil fuel industry involvement in athletics. FIFA has defended its sponsorship arrangements as legitimate business partnerships that comply with all applicable rules and regulations. What happens next may depend on whether mounting public pressure influences future commercial decisions by international soccer governing bodies or host city organizers.