FIFA President Gianni Infantino almost circles the globe three times during World Cup | Football News
FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s travel during the 2026 World Cup has come under fresh scrutiny after reports detailed his use of a private jet to travel throughout the tournament, sparking criticism from climate campaigners who questioned whether it was in line with FIFA’s own environmental commitments.According to reports, Infantino participated in 44 of the 104 games in this World Cup from the opening game on June 11 to the final between Spain and Argentina on July 19. The expanded tournament was held in 16 host cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico, making it the largest and most geographically diverse World Cup in history.Infantino visited every host city during the tournament, often attending more than one game a day.
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During the group stages, he attended two games in different cities on multiple occasions, reportedly sometimes needing to take three different flights to accommodate his schedule.This widespread travel has raised concerns due to the impact of private aviation on the environment, especially FIFA’s repeated pledges to reduce its carbon footprint.
Flight data highlights environmental impacts
according to Mirror analysis Infantino flew approximately 106,323 kilometers (66,066 miles) on a Gulfstream G650 private jet during the competition, generating an estimated 1,020.3 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), according to flight data. Based on the Earth’s circumference of approximately 40,075 kilometers, this distance is roughly equivalent to circling the Earth nearly three times.The BBC noted that the average fuel consumption of the Gulfstream G650ER aircraft used during the competition was believed to be approximately 1,817 liters per hour. The broadcaster estimated the emissions produced in the group stage using the UK government’s greenhouse gas conversion methodology.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino signs an autograph after Spain defeated France in the World Cup semifinals in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026 near Dallas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Infantino has previously been photographed traveling on Qatar Airways Executive aircraft, and reports during this World Cup indicate that he is once again using a Gulfstream G650ER.
Expansion of event scale increases travel demand
The 2026 World Cup is the first to be co-hosted by three countries and feature 48 teams, significantly increasing travel requirements for teams, officials, media and supporters.According to FIFA’s own environmental assessment, this World Cup is expected to produce about 9 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, almost twice the average emissions of World Cups held between 2010 and 2022. Air travel is the largest contributor to these emissions.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino (center) stands with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) and FBI Director Kash Patel during the World Cup Group K soccer match between Colombia and Portugal on Saturday, June 27, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Despite these figures, FIFA has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2040.Ahead of the game, the governing body outlined several sustainability initiatives, including regionalizing team accommodation to minimize long-distance travel, promoting electric vehicles and public transport, improving energy efficiency and encouraging water conservation.FIFA’s environmental claims have previously attracted regulatory attention. In 2023, Swiss regulators concluded that FIFA made a false statement by describing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as the first carbon-neutral event after relying on carbon offsets. Following the ruling, FIFA said it recognized climate change as “one of the most pressing challenges of our time” and believed immediate and sustainable action was necessary.
Campaign groups question consistency
Some environmental groups believe Infantino’s travel choices undermine FIFA’s sustainability message.Frank Huisingh, founder of Fossil Free Football, said private jet travel is in stark contrast to what players and fans experience during games.“As players and fans struggled in the sweltering heat, Infantino’s Qatari private jet whisked him from VIP box to VIP box during his bloated game,” Huesinger said.
President Donald Trump, left, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino watch the World Cup championship soccer final between Spain and Argentina on Sunday, July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin)
“There is no more perfect example 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 sport, its players and its fans”.Andrew Simms, director of the New Weather Institute, said plane emissions had left “a trail of contempt”, while Freddie Daley of climate action network Cool Down Sport told BBC Sport the apparent reliance on private aviation was “symptomatic of Fifa’s failure in terms of the environment and sustainability”.Jenny Ammann, a PhD researcher at Loughborough University who studies fan attitudes towards climate change and football, said interviews with fans continued to expose criticism of FIFA’s leadership on environmental issues.She argued that Infantino’s reported travel emissions were “hundreds of times higher than the average annual emissions from football fans across Europe”, adding that such actions were unlikely to encourage supporters to adopt more sustainable behaviour.
FIFA defends president’s travel
FIFA has defended the president’s travel arrangements, insisting his schedule reflects official duties at tournaments spread across the continent.A FIFA spokesman told BBC Sport The president “travels frequently with relevant officials to handle business and tournament-related matters and visits FIFA member associations whenever possible.”The spokesperson added that travel arrangements are made based on operational requirements.“Sometimes travel is organized commercially, including low-cost airlines, and sometimes by private charter, depending on what is more efficient and cost-effective in the specific circumstances.”The governing body also said FIFA has in place internal rules governing the travel of its officials.Unlike the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Infantino participated in all 64 games in eight stadiums with relatively short travel distances between them, the 2026 World Cup poses greater logistical challenges due to the expanded format and the vast distances between host cities in North America.While the scale of Infantino’s tour has reignited debate about football’s environmental impact, FIFA insists its long-term sustainability commitments remain intact, continuing to pursue targets of halving emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2040.
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