Football For Future: How the Beautiful Game Can Drive Global Climate Adaptation
Football For Future: How the Beautiful Game Can Drive Global Climate Adaptation
Football, or 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. To explore challenges and opportunities, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) and Football For Future will host the event Football For Future: How the Beautiful Game Can Drive Global Climate Adaptation during New York Climate Week 2026. This event will feature the premiere 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
Becky Dale, VP, Sustainability, LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Elizabeth Carlson, Chair, FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston
Ann Hosmal, Firmwide Resilience Lead, HOK
Tim Lau, Associate Director of Editorial and Content Strategy, ClimateWorks Foundation
Dakota Fisher, Senior Advocate, Adaptation, NRDC
At A Glance Agenda
5:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. — Welcome
5:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. — Pitches in Peril: Fires in LA
6:00 p.m. – 6:40 p.m. — Moderated Panel Discussion
6:40 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. — Panel Q&A
The convening will bring together advocates, policymakers, professional and semi-professional footballers, funders, researchers, sports industry leaders, and members of the public to explore how cultural institutions and global sporting events can strengthen public awareness, inspire action, and build support for climate adaptation solutions.