As the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off across North America, stadiums hosting the action are racking up an unexpected stat line: green credentials. Of the 16 stadiums, 13 have earned LEED certification—a widely used green building rating system—with 10 certified since 2024 through a rigorous process. Several U.S. host venues have already cleared the bar, with MetLife Stadium earning LEED Gold in May, just ahead of hosting the final.
The numbers behind the scenes are just as impressive. Together, the certified stadiums have installed more than 11,500 solar panels, and the changes they’ve made will save over 100 million gallons of drinking water and eliminate more than 5 million single-use plastics every year.
Standards Make It Happen
Where do standards come in? LEED is run by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)—an ANSI member and accredited standards developer. With ASHRAE and IES, USGBC co-developed an American National Standard for the design of high-performance green buildings. Other ANSI-accredited developers, including NFPA, IAPMO and the International Code Council (ICC), contribute additional standards across building codes, life safety, materials, and water systems.
The behind-the-scenes work of ANSI-accredited developers—bringing industry, government, and technical experts to the same table—is part of what makes a “green stadium” more than a slogan. It’s one more example of how the U.S. standardization system turns shared expertise into real-world results—on and off the field.
Want to read more about standards that support the World Cup? Check back for parts 2 and 3 in the coming days!
