FIFA President Infantino Attended 24 Matches Across US, Canada and Mexico Using Private Jet

FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended 24 matches in just over two weeks during the 2026 World Cup group stage. BBC News reported that a private jet linked to FIFA and Infantino completed 27 flights across the United States and Canada. The jet flew at least 31,144 miles and spent more than 66 hours in the air between the tournament start and 27 June 2026.

Specific routes included a 2,800-mile flight from Vancouver to Miami on 13 June after Australia played Turkey, followed by a 2,700-mile trip from Miami to Seattle on 15 June and a 960-mile leg to Los Angeles the same day. On 22 June the aircraft covered 92 miles from Philadelphia to Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. Infantino was interviewed the next morning at a Fox News studio in New York.

On 26 June the jet flew from Miami with a stop in Dallas to Seattle, then returned 2,700 miles to Miami after Infantino watched Egypt play Iran. Infantino watched his 24th and final group-stage match in Miami on 27 June when Portugal faced Colombia. The Gulfstream G650ER produced an estimated 516 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions, roughly equal to the annual output of 78 people based on EU data.

FIFA has committed to cutting emissions 50 percent by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2040. The organization pledged to host teams regionally, promote electric cars and public transport, and use existing stadiums for the 2026 tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

A 2025 report by Scientists for Global Responsibility estimated the overall carbon footprint of the expanded event could reach nine million tonnes of CO2e.

In 2023 a Swiss regulator ruled that FIFA made false statements by claiming the Qatar 2022 World Cup would be carbon-neutral. A FIFA representative told BBC Sport that Infantino travels on business and tournament matters and chooses private charter when it is more efficient.