Sports waste management in Iranian football stadiums has become a major environmental and managerial concern. The increasing volume of waste on match days and the lack of a systematic framework for separation and recycling create substantial economic and social consequences and highlight the need for evidence-based planning. This study examines the management of sport waste recycling in Persian Gulf Pro League football stadiums in Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan, Anzali and Ahvaz, including Shahid Shahr-e Qods, Yadegar-e Emam, Naghsh-e Jahan, Sirous Ghayeghran and Foolad Arena. A mixed-methods design was adopted. In the qualitative phase, a phenomenological approach was used and semi-structured interviews with experts generated 138 items grouped into eight main dimensions through coding. In the quantitative phase, a questionnaire based on these items was administered to 150 participants and the data were analysed using the non-parametric Friedman test. The results showed that the “culture-building and public belief” dimension had the highest mean rank and underscored the central role of cultural attitudes and values in the success of environmental programmes. Smart recycling infrastructure and spectator and volunteer participation followed in importance, whereas inter-organizational collaboration received the lowest score and revealed weak institutional coordination. Overall, the findings indicate that culture-building, infrastructure development and social participation act as key drivers of sustainability, but their full realisation depends on cross-sector collaboration and strategic planning. Nonetheless, the study provides a comprehensive snapshot of the current situation and offers practical pathways for moving Iranian football stadiums from a waste-producing model towards green stadium management.