FIFA chief’s 100-hour flight log sparks carbon scrutiny during 2026 World Cup

An Associated Press analysis of flight logs, photographs, and social media posts reveals that FIFA President Gianni Infantino flew nearly 60,000 miles and spent over 100 hours in the air during the 2026 World Cup. Infantino utilised a Gulfstream G650 jet, accessed via the Qatari government fleet and operated by Qatar Airways, to visit all 16 host cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The travel itinerary included attending matches at every venue, a FIFA summit in Miami, and a trip to Doha for the funeral of Qatar’s former emir. Environmental groups have raised concerns regarding the tournament's carbon footprint, citing the extensive air travel required for officials, teams, and fans. FIFA did not respond to requests for comment regarding the travel schedule and arrangements.

The AP analysis, which tracked the Gulfstream’s movements using flight logs and data from FlightAware, indicates that Infantino’s schedule averaged more than one flight per day, with some days involving more than three flights. The longest flight segment, excluding the trip to Qatar, was a 344-minute journey from Miami to Seattle on June 15. The shortest flight segment was a 28-minute hop from Seattle to Vancouver on July 6. Infantino attended at least one match at all 16 World Cup venues, with Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium being the most visited, hosting five games.

The itinerary also featured a stop in New York for an interview on Fox & Friends and a FIFA summit in Miami attended by representatives from the organisation’s 211 member associations. Infantino flew to Doha to attend the funeral of Qatar’s former emir before returning to the United States in time for the World Cup semifinals. A scheduled flight from New Jersey to Miami for the third-place match was cancelled due to thunderstorms causing delays at New York City area airports.

Infantino made an international border crossing within North America during the tournament, in addition to the trip to Qatar. The Gulfstream mostly used the host cities' main international airports but sometimes relied on smaller general and business aviation airports, including Atlanta's Fulton County Executive Airport and Miami's Opa Locka Executive Airport. The distance the jet traveled during the tournament, excluding the journey to Qatar, equals nearly five full days in the air.

FIFA has pledged to reduce carbon emissions from the World Cup and related activities by half by 2030 and has committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2040. Climate researchers and environmental groups have argued that the expanded, three-country tournament was likely to produce the most atmosphere-polluting greenhouse gases of any World Cup, citing the extensive air travel required for teams, fans, and officials.