Produced by climate and football charity Pledgeball, Route ’26: Losing Sight of the Goal follows football presenters Laurence McKenna and Alex Moneypenny as they travel across the United States, Canada and Mexico to explore the environmental challenges surrounding what will be the largest FIFA World Cup in history.

Football Meets Climate Reality

Part football road trip, part climate investigation, the series takes viewers beyond the stadiums and into communities already experiencing the impacts of a warming climate.

The second episode transports viewers to Phoenix, Arizona, where McKenna and Moneypenny attend a professional football match played in temperatures reaching 42°C. The episode examines the physical challenges posed by extreme heat and asks a fundamental question: can football continue to thrive in these conditions?

Speaking about the experience, Alex Moneypenny said:

“It felt like being in an oven. People think it’s just a bit warmer. It’s not. It’s the dryness of the heat.”

He added:

“If the World Cup is played in that sort of heat, there’s almost no point having conversations about anything else. The tactical conversations, the line-ups, all of it becomes secondary because that’s what you’re battling against.”

A Growing Issue for Global Sport

The documentary arrives at a time when sport is increasingly confronting the realities of climate change. From extreme heat and poor air quality to flooding, drought and wildfire disruption, climate impacts are becoming a growing operational challenge for sports organisations, event organisers and athletes worldwide.

Rather than focusing solely on future climate projections, Route ’26 explores what is already happening today. Through interviews with local experts and first-hand experiences, the series demonstrates how rising temperatures are beginning to affect football communities across North America.

For supporters travelling to host cities such as Dallas, Los Angeles and New York, the documentary raises important questions about fan welfare, tournament scheduling and the long-term resilience of major sporting events.

Telling the Story Through Football

Pledgeball has deliberately used football culture and storytelling to engage audiences that might not typically engage with climate discussions.

Katie Cross, CEO of Pledgeball, believes the contrast between the spectacle of the World Cup and the realities facing communities on the ground creates a powerful narrative.

“This summer’s tournament feels like a festival in the middle of a pandemic, one that is sponsored by a virus.”

She continued:

“The contrast between the exorbitance and environmental impacts of the tournament and the very real ways in which Americans and grassroots players are experiencing climate change, through wildfires, threats to food supplies and drought, are brought to life through the docuseries.”

Looking Beyond 2026

As global sport continues to grapple with climate risk, Route ’26 serves as a timely reminder that sustainability is no longer a peripheral issue. For football, the challenge is becoming increasingly visible on the pitch, in the stands and across host communities.

The 2026 World Cup promises to be a celebration of the global game. Pledgeball’s new series suggests it may also become a defining moment in football’s conversation about climate change, adaptation and the future of sport in a warming world.