Zero-Waste FIFA World Cup 2026 - Oceana Canada

Reuse for the Win

Making FIFA World Cup 2026 Zero-Waste

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WHAT

FIFA World Cup 26

WHERE

Toronto: BMO Field
Vancouver: BC Place

WHEN

June, 2026

 

Help eliminate single-use plastic waste and protect our oceans

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is coming to Canada, bringing one of the world’s most-watched sporting events to Toronto and Vancouver. With millions of fans and over $1 billion in investment, this is an unprecedented opportunity to make a lasting impact. Not just in sports, but for the planet.  

But with the World Cup comes a choice: will Toronto and Vancouver be remembered for mountains of waste — or for setting a new global benchmark in sustainable sporting events? By eliminating single-use and implementing reuse and refill systems at stadiums, host cities can prevent hundreds of thousands of cups and containers from entering the waste stream and potentially polluting our environment and oceans. This is our chance to cut waste, protect the oceans, and show the world that Canada can be a leader in zero-waste solutions. 

#ReuseForTheWin isn’t just about protecting the oceans. It’s about building a cleaner, healthier future for our cities, our communities, and for generations to come. 

FIFA reuse to reduce single-use plastic

The Problem

4.3 MILLION TONNES

Annual single-use plastic waste in Canada

94,500

Seats at Canadian FIFA stadiums

100,000+

Avg. single-use cups used per game

PLASTIC WASTE AT FIFA WORLD CUP 2026

Every game at Toronto’s BMO Field (46,000 seats) and Vancouver’s BC Place (54,500 seats) could generate more than 100,000 single-use cups and food containers in just a few hours — if each fan buys just one drink and one snack. Over the course of the tournament, that adds up to millions of pieces of single-use waste. 

When it comes to plastic waste, Canada only successfully recycles 8% of it. In Ontario, recycling rates have declined over the years. Today the percentage of materials that are recycled in Ontario is fewer than 60%. Even “highly recyclable” items like bottles and cans, have a recycling rate below 50%. The rest ends up in landfills, incinerators, or polluting the environment. Without action, FIFA World Cup 2026 will leave behind a pollution crisis, not progress. 

THE SOLUTION: REFILL & REUSE FOR THE WIN

Toronto and Vancouver can change the game by implementing reusable beverage and foodware systems at World Cup venues. These systems allow individuals to reuse the same item – like a reusable cup – over and over again. The items are used, collected, washed, sanitized, and redistributed, replacing the need for single-use, disposable materials. This is about more than reducing waste; it’s about creating green jobs, cutting costs, and setting a global standard for sustainable stadiums. 

Fans are also ready for this change. A recent Abacus Data poll found that 88% of Canadians would choose a reusable container over a single-use one. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy the game and help protect the environment? 

A GAME-CHANGING OPPORTUNITY

By eliminating single-use at stadiums, Canada can make FIFA World Cup 2026 a global model for zero-waste sporting events. With the world watching, Toronto and Vancouver can showcase real, scalable solutions that protect our oceans and environment. This is our chance to prove that major events can be single-use-free, while still delivering an unforgettable fan experience. 

That’s why Oceana Canada is working with stadium operators, beverage companies, and governments to ensure the FIFA World Cup 2026 becomes a zero-waste event. Investing in reuse and refill now means sustainability can become a permanent part of our stadiums, long after the final whistle. 

But we need you to help make #ReuseForTheWin a reality! Stay tuned for ways to join the movement and tell FIFA stadiums in Canada that you want a waste-free World Cup! 

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Oceana Canada

Oceana Canada was established as an independent charity in 2015 and is part of the largest international advocacy group dedicated solely to ocean conservation. We have successfully campaigned to ban single-use plastics, end the shark fin trade, make rebuilding depleted fish populations the law, improve the way fisheries are managed and protect marine habitat. We work with civil society, academics, fishers, Indigenous Peoples and the federal government to return Canada’s formerly vibrant oceans to health and abundance. By restoring Canada’s oceans, we can strengthen our communities, reap greater economic and nutritional benefits and protect our future.

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FEATURED CAMPAIGN

Stop Plastic Pollution

Oceana Canada campaigns to stop plastic pollution at the source - by working to pass policies in Canada that reduce the production of unnecessary single-use plastics, eliminate plastics that cannot be recycled and move toward circular, refill and reuse systems. 

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CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS

Restore Capelin Abundance

Protect North Atlantic Right Whales

Rebuild Ocean Abundance

Protect Marine Habitat

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Siège social d’Oceana Canada
18 King Street East, Suite 505
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5C 1C4

Téléphone: +1 (416) 583-2350
Courriel: info@oceana.ca

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