Infantino's World Cup flights draw scrutiny amid FIFA climate pledge
An AP analysis found FIFA’s president logged 115 flight hours during the 2026 World Cup, excluding a Qatar funeral trip.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
FIFA President Gianni Infantino spent more than 100 hours in the air during the 2026 World Cup, according to an Associated Press analysis, as the organization promotes plans to cut emissions tied to its events. The travel underscores the strain between FIFA’s climate commitments and the demands of the largest World Cup by geography.
The AP said it reviewed flight logs for a private business jet used by Infantino in recent years, as well as AP photographs and images posted by FIFA and Infantino on Instagram. By the time Spain beat Argentina in Sunday’s final in New Jersey, the analysis found, the jet had flown nearly enough distance to circle Earth two and a half times.
The tournament was staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with 104 matches in 16 cities and four time zones, according to AP. Infantino attended 44 matches, appeared at every World Cup venue and was present at games on 31 of the tournament’s 34 match days, AP reported.
AP said Infantino’s travel was enabled by access to a Gulfstream G650 from the Qatari government fleet. The aircraft is operated by Qatar Airways’ private charter division, and Qatar Airways is a World Cup sponsor, according to AP.
FlightAware data cited by AP showed the aircraft averaged more than one flight a day after a June 9 trip from Los Angeles to Mexico City before the opening match. On several days, the jet made more than three flights, AP reported.
Infantino’s schedule also included non-match stops, according to AP. He went to New York for a Fox & Friends interview and to Miami for a FIFA summit attended by representatives of the organization’s 211 member associations. AP also reported that he flew to Doha for the funeral of Qatar’s former emir before returning to the United States for the semifinals.
FIFA did not respond to an emailed request for comment about Infantino’s travel schedule and arrangements, AP reported.
AP’s analysis found that, excluding repositioning flights and 29 hours linked to the Qatar funeral trip, the Gulfstream logged 115 flight hours during the tournament. The jet traveled 59,281 miles, or 95,403 kilometers, over that span, AP reported.
The longest tournament flight counted by AP, excluding the Qatar journey, was a 344-minute trip from Miami to Seattle before Infantino attended Belgium-Egypt on June 15. The shortest was a 28-minute flight from Seattle to Vancouver on July 6, after he attended United States-Belgium in Seattle and before Switzerland-Colombia in Vancouver, according to AP.
AP said the aircraft used 21 airports, including large international hubs and smaller business aviation airports such as Fulton County Executive Airport in Atlanta and Opa Locka Executive Airport in Miami. Through the semifinals, the jet crossed international borders within North America 23 times, AP reported.
Infantino attended two matches on 13 days, often in cities far apart, according to AP. The busiest travel day identified by AP was June 26, when the plane flew 5,772 miles on an itinerary from Miami to Dallas, then Seattle, then back to Miami after a late-night departure.
FIFA has pledged to cut carbon emissions from the World Cup and related activities by 50% by 2030 and to reach net-zero emissions by 2040, according to AP. FIFA’s 2026 World Cup sustainability and human rights strategy says the organization is committed to addressing climate change.
Climate researchers and environmental groups have argued that the expanded three-country World Cup was likely to generate more greenhouse gas pollution than any previous edition because of air travel by teams, fans and officials, according to AP.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.