Trump’s EPA Touts Superficial World Cup Sustainability Commitments While Rolling Back Key Environmental Protections

The agency’s new FIFA World Cup partnership page highlights recycling resources and sustainability guides while ignoring the administration’s record of weakening environmental safeguards.

Washington, DC — As the FIFA World Cup kicked off on Thursday, the Trump Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency unveiled its “EPA-FIFA 26 Partnership,” outlining how the agency is supposedly working with FIFA to “enhance environmental stewardship and sustainability practices during the FIFA World Cup 2026.” 

Yet, even a quick look reveals a remarkably thin effort. The webpage primarily links recycling resources, a Host City sustainable hospitality guide, and Texas’ sports sustainability resources, offering little evidence of meaningful federal action to address the environmental and climate impacts associated with an event expected to draw millions of visitors. 

The contrast between the EPA’s rhetoric and the administration’s record is stark. While promoting sustainability initiatives tied to the World Cup, the administration has spent much of its time rolling back environmental protections, weakening climate regulations, and reducing federal preparedness efforts designed to protect communities from pollution and extreme weather.

Climate Power En Acción Executive Director Antonieta Cádiz issued the following statement: 

“What we see today is a clear example of hypocrisy and double standards. We know this administration has never been committed to protecting Americans from pollution and extreme weather, but this callousness during a major sporting event that will bring millions of people from around the world together outdoors, often in extreme heat, is both dangerous and irresponsible. This website conveniently leaves out the fact that Trump has taken millions from Big Oil while attacking clean energy, reversing key environmental protections, and dismantling disaster preparedness efforts that help keep communities safe. Since taking office, Trump’s actions have shown he has no regard for people’s health or safety.”

Below are some of the claims the EPA made in its FIFA partnership announcement and what it’s actually done under Donald Trump:

CLAIM: “EPA IS COMMITTED TO APPLYING GOLD STANDARD SCIENCE.”

WHAT IT’S DONE: Trump’s EPA eliminated its key science office and fired thousands of employees.

• In July 2025, the EPA began dissolving its Office of Research and Development (ORD) and laying off staff, including hundreds of scientists and their research on environmental hazards. 
• EPA said it would cut staffing levels to 12,448, a reduction of more than 3,700 employees, or nearly 23%, from the January 2025 level when Trump took office.
• Shortly after Trump took office, Acting EPA Administrator James Payne fired all members of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee and Science Advisory Board.
• Pollution protections rolled back by Trump’s EPA could’ve prevented an estimated 30,000 deaths each year and save $275 billion annually in health care, fuel, and other everyday costs that are making life less affordable.

CLAIM: “SUPPORT FOR CLEAN AIR AND BOLSTERING AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT.”

WHAT IT’S DONE: Trump’s EPA repealed the scientific and legal foundation of the federal government to combat climate change that underpinned clean air protections, exposing Americans to pollutants that threaten public health. 

• In February 2026, the EPA officially repealed the endangerment finding, the 2009 scientific determination that greenhouse gas pollution is a danger to public health, and which granted the EPA itself the authority to combat climate change.
• Lee Zeldin, the EPA Administrator, declined to appoint any academic researchers to the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee and instead appointed a consultant, industry representatives, and a member of a climate science-denying group.
• The EPA signaled that it would no longer consider the health benefits of rules for particulate matter and ozone when considering air pollution rules for industry.
• At least 40 million Latinos live in counties that received at least one failing grade for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. They are the ones hardest hit by these actions. 
• Trump’s EPA weakened limits on toxic pollution from coal plants, allowing more mercury and dangerous pollutants into the air and water. 

CLAIM: “ENHANCE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.” 

WHAT IT’S DONE: Stripped protections against toxic PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals”, which are linked to serious health impacts.

• Trump’s EPA asked a federal court to reverse its own rules regulating PFAS in drinking water. At least 73 million Americans are served by water systems with at least one sample above the EPA’s PFAS threshold. 
• Trump’s EPA announced it would reconsider wastewater standards for the oil and gas industry, which were designed to prevent wastewater pollution.
• Trump’s EPA proposed a rule to limit states’ ability to block, under the Clean Water Act, the construction of pipelines, coal export terminals, and other polluting energy projects.
• Latino communities in the U.S. are already disproportionately exposed to PFAS pollution in drinking water, and Trump’s rollbacks will further pollute the drinking water relied on by millions of Latinos.