How can football help the planet's water problem?

The climate crisis continues to be one of if not the greatest threat to humanity. The global game must do its part to help the planet, as football is the most-watched sport in the world and can often be a driving force for positive change. Inefficient energy systems can be replaced with more environmentally friendly ones, saving clubs money in the long run.

This week on Football Now, we are asking if football has a water issue and how it can it can help the cause going forward. According to the Economic Times, a full-sized grass pitch uses up to 100,000 litres of water per day. Could a synthetic pitch be the ultimate solution? Possibly not because artificial turf absorbs, retains and emanates heat that is harmful to the environment.

"I think it's a massive issue." Says Barney Weston, founder of Football For Future.

"I mean, football uses water in lots of different ways, whether it's watering grass pitches, whether it's in water bottles for the players and fans, or food and drink. It's a problem that we do need to tackle. I think fans particularly don't necessarily realise how much water is consumed in football because the only time you see that is when pitches are being, you know, watered at halftime or perhaps in advance of the game or afterwards."

The upcoming World Cup offers Qatar the chance to showcase its environmental efforts as the host of the first-ever carbon neutral competition. The groundbreaking stance can be seen at Stadium 974. A fully demountable arena made up of 974 shipping containers.

Sustainability Director at Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Bodour Al Meer, outlines how they aim to conserve water throughout the games.

"All our stadium reduces the water consumption by 40%. We use desalinated and