Infantino World Cup Flights became a major talking point during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended 24 matches in just over two weeks. BBC Verify tracked a private jet linked to FIFA that completed 27 flights during this period. The journeys covered more than 31,000 miles across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The tournament is spread across 16 host cities in three countries. This large distance made travel more challenging than past World Cups. According to the report, the longest flight was about 2,800 miles from Vancouver to Miami. On some days, Infantino took three separate flights to attend multiple matches.
The private jet is believed to be a Gulfstream G650ER. Based on UK government greenhouse gas conversion data, the flights produced an estimated 516 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). That is roughly equal to the yearly greenhouse gas emissions of about 78 average people worldwide. These figures are estimates because the exact fuel use and passenger numbers are unknown.
Infantino World Cup Flights have also raised questions about FIFA’s environmental promises. FIFA has pledged to cut emissions by 50% by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2040. The organization also promoted regional team hosting, public transport, electric vehicles, and the use of existing stadiums to reduce environmental impact.
FIFA said the president travels for tournament and business duties and sometimes uses commercial airlines while other trips require private charter flights. However, the organization did not answer questions about how many passengers were on board or whether the emissions were offset.
