FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s travel during the 2026 World Cup has come under renewed scrutiny after reports detailed the extent of his use of private air travel throughout the tournament, sparking criticism from climate campaigners who questioned whether it was aligned with FIFA’s environmental commitments.According to reports, Infantino attended 44 of the tournament’s 104 matches between the opening game on June 11 and the final between Spain and Argentina on July 19. The expanded tournament was staged in 16 host cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico, making it the largest and most geographically extensive World Cup in history.Infantino visited every host city during the competition, often attending more than one match per day.
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On several occasions during the group stage, he saw two matches in different cities, while some days involved three separate flights to accommodate his schedule.The extensive travel has drawn attention to the environmental impact associated with private aviation, particularly as FIFA has repeatedly pledged to reduce its carbon footprint.
The flight data highlights the environmental impact
According to the Analysis of the mirror of flight data, Infantino traveled approximately 106,323 kilometers (66,066 miles) during the tournament aboard a Gulfstream G650 private jet, producing approximately 1,020.3 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e). This distance is roughly equivalent to circling the Earth almost three times, based on the circumference of the planet of about 40,075 kilometers.The BBC noted that the Gulfstream G650ER, the plane believed to have been used during the tournament, has an average fuel consumption of about 1,817 liters per hour. Using the British government’s greenhouse gas conversion methodology, the broadcaster estimated the emissions produced during the group stage.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino signs autographs after Spain defeated France in the World Cup semifinals in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Infantino was previously photographed traveling aboard the Qatar Airways executive jet, while reports during this World Cup indicated he was again on a Gulfstream G650ER.
The extended tournament increases travel demands
The 2026 edition marked the first World Cup with 48 teams and was hosted by three countries, significantly increasing travel requirements for teams, officials, media and supporters.According to FIFA’s environmental assessments, the tournament was projected to generate around nine million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, almost double the average recorded in World Cups staged between 2010 and 2022. Air travel represents the largest contributor to these emissions.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, center, sits with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and FBI Director Kash Patel before the World Cup Group K soccer match between Colombia and Portugal in Miami Gardens, Florida, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Despite these figures, FIFA has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2040.Ahead of the tournament, the governing body outlined several sustainability initiatives, including regionalizing team accommodation to reduce long-distance journeys where possible, promoting electric vehicles and public transport, improving energy efficiency and encouraging water conservation.The issue of FIFA’s environmental claims has already drawn regulatory attention. In 2023, a Swiss regulator concluded that FIFA had made false statements describing the Qatar 2022 World Cup as the first carbon neutral tournament, after relying on carbon offset measures. Following this decision, FIFA said it recognized climate change as “one of the most pressing challenges of our time” and believed that immediate and sustained action was needed.
Campaign groups are asking for consistency
Several environmental organizations have argued that Infantino’s travel choices have undermined FIFA’s sustainability messaging.Frank Huisingh, founder of Fossil Free Football, said the private jet travel was in stark contrast to the conditions experienced by players and supporters during the tournament.“Even the players and supporters struggle with extreme heat, Infantino’s Qatari private jet took him from VIP box to VIP area throughout his sweltering tournament,” said Huisingh.
President Donald Trump, left, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino attend the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
“It couldn’t be a more perfect illustration of FIFA’s willful blindness to the climate threats facing football and its fans.”Katie Cross, chief executive of sports sustainability charity Pledgeball, said the reported emissions reflected “a complete disregard for the longevity of the game, the players and the fans who play it”.Andrew Simms, director of the New Weather Institute, described the aircraft’s emissions as leaving “a cloud of disdain”, while Freddie Daley of the Cool Down Sport for Climate Action Network told BBC Sport that the apparent reliance on private aviation was “symptomatic of FIFA’s failings on the environment and sustainability”.Jenny Amann, a doctoral researcher at Loughborough University who studies supporters’ attitudes towards climate change and football, said interviews with fans consistently revealed criticism of FIFA’s leadership on environmental issues.She argued that the travel emissions reported by Infantino were “hundreds of times greater than the average European football fan produces in a whole year”, adding that such actions are unlikely to encourage supporters to adopt more sustainable behaviours.
FIFA defends the president’s trip
FIFA has defended the president’s travel arrangements, maintaining that his schedule reflects official duties at a tournament spread across an entire continent.A FIFA spokesman said BBC Sport that the president “routinely travels, together with relevant officials, on business and tournaments and undertakes to visit FIFA member associations whenever he can”.The spokesperson added that travel arrangements are made according to operational requirements.“Sometimes the trips are organized commercially, including low-cost airlines, and sometimes it is by private charter, depending on which is more efficient and cost-effective under the circumstances.”The governing body also stated that FIFA has established internal rules governing travel by its officials.Unlike the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Infantino attended all 64 matches in eight stadiums located within a relatively short traveling distance of each other, the 2026 tournament presented much greater logistical challenges due to its expanded format and the vast distances separating the host cities in North America.While the scale of Infantino’s journey has sparked renewed debate about football’s environmental impact, FIFA maintains that its long-term sustainability commitments remain unchanged as it continues to pursue its goals of halving emissions by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2040.