Football For Future: How the Beautiful Game Can Drive Global Adaptation and Disaster Resilience
Football (soccer) is the world's most popular sport, connecting billions of people across cultures, generations, and borders. Yet climate change is increasingly threatening the communities, infrastructure, and traditions that make the sport possible. From extreme heat and flooding to worsening storms and rising costs of maintaining playing facilities, climate impacts are already affecting football at every level, from local pitches to international tournaments. These same climate risks are also affecting the communities where fans live, work, and play.
To explore these challenges and opportunities, NRDC and Football For Future will host Football For Future: How the Beautiful Game Can Drive Adaptation and Improved Disaster Resilience during Atlanta’s inaugural Climate Week 2026. The event will feature a screening of Football For Future's new documentary, Pitches in Peril: Fires in LA – a short documentary exploring climate disruption across World Cup 2026 host nations – followed by a moderated discussion and audience engagement focused on how football can become a powerful catalyst for advancing climate adaptation and disaster resilience.
Featured Speakers
Elliot Arthur-Worsop, Founder, Director, Football For Future
Dr. Erica Holloman-Hill, Chief Envisioning Officer, Ayika Solutions
Sanjay Patel, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Soccer in the Streets
Rob Friedman, Director, Southeast Region, NRDC
Dakota Fisher, Senior Advocate, Adaptation, NRDC
At A Glance Agenda
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. — Arrival & Networking
1:30 p.m. - 1:40 p.m. — Welcoming Remarks
1:40 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. — Pitches in Peril: Fires in LA
2:00 p.m. - 2:40 p.m. — Moderated Panel Discussion
2:40 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. — Panel Q&A
The convening will explore how cultural institutions and global sporting events can strengthen public awareness, inspire action, and build support for climate adaptation solutions. By connecting the passion people have for football with the growing need to reduce harm and preserve community and culture, the event seeks to foster dialogue about what it means to preserve the places, traditions, and experiences people care about most.