Wire flash
SportsFIFA President Infantino's private jet travel during World Cup circled Earth twice
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
An Associated Press analysis reveals that FIFA President Gianni Infantino traveled approximately 96,560 kilometers by private jet during the 39-day 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico—equivalent to circling the Earth twice. This contradicts FIFA's stated sustainability and human rights strategy to combat climate change. Infantino attended 44 of 104 matches, visited all 16 stadiums, and made side trips to New York, Miami, and Doha. His longest flight was 344 minutes from Miami to Seattle. The Gulfstream G650 jet was operated by Qatar Airways' charter division, a World Cup sponsor. FIFA did not comment on the travel schedule.
Source report
FIFA's sustainability goals appear not to apply to its own president. The world football governing body had stated in its sustainability and human rights strategy for the World Cup that it aimed to actively combat climate change. However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino (56) appears uninterested in that commitment.
According to an analysis by the Associated Press (AP), Infantino traveled a total of nearly 96,560 kilometers by plane during the 39 days of the mega-tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. For context, the circumference of the Earth is approximately 40,075 kilometers — meaning Infantino flew around the planet twice during the World Cup.
How the Analysis Was Conducted
AP tracked Infantino's travels by analyzing flight logs of a private business jet that Infantino has used in recent years. The analysis also drew on photographs from AP photographers and Instagram posts from both FIFA and Infantino himself. The FIFA president likely covered the distance in a Gulfstream G650, operated by the charter division of Qatar Airways — a World Cup sponsor.
Infantino Attended 44 of 104 Matches in Person
According to the AP analysis, Infantino's travel itinerary included:
- Attendance at 44 of the 104 World Cup matches
- A stop in New York for an interview on Fox & Friends
- A stay in Miami for a FIFA summit with representatives of the 211 member associations
- A flight to Doha to attend the funeral of the former Emir of Qatar
- A return to the USA in time for the World Cup semifinals
On 31 of the 34 match days (with five days off), Infantino was present at at least one match. On 13 days, he attended two matches. He also visited at least one match in all 16 World Cup stadiums.
Flight Details
- Longest flight: 344 minutes on June 15 from Miami to Seattle, where he attended the match Belgium vs. Egypt. This flight time corresponds roughly to the duration of three complete World Cup matches from kickoff to final whistle.
- Shortest flight: 28 minutes on July 6 from Seattle to Vancouver.
FIFA did not respond to an AP inquiry regarding Infantino's travel schedule and travel arrangements.
Source
BILD - SportWestern
Part of this Story
FIFA President Infantino Flew Twice Around the Earth During World Cup Despite Climate Pledges