FIFA President Gianni Infantino Flies Over 50,000 Kilometers During 2026 World Cup Group Stage

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has traveled extensively during the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, covering more than 50,000 kilometers by private jet. The tournament, hosted across three countries and featuring 48 teams, saw Infantino attending multiple matches in different cities on the same day, sometimes taking up to three separate flights.

A BBC investigation tracked Infantino's private jet, revealing 27 flights in the first two weeks of the tournament. His longest flight was a 4,507-kilometer trip from Vancouver to Miami on June 13, after watching the Australia-Turkey match. On June 15, he flew over 4,000 kilometers across the U.S. from Miami to Seattle to attend the Belgium-Egypt game, then traveled 1,545 kilometers south to Los Angeles for the Iran-New Zealand match.

Despite Infantino's public commitment to sustainability and human rights at FIFA's 2026 World Cup sustainability and human rights strategy conference, the environmental impact of his flights during the first two weeks equated to the average annual emissions of 78 people. The private jet spent over 66 hours in the air from the tournament's start until June 27. FIFA did not respond to BBC's request for comment on the matter.

Infantino also made shorter flights, such as a 148-kilometer trip from Philadelphia to New Jersey on June 22, where he gave a Fox News interview before attending games in Boston and Toronto later that day. His intense travel schedule highlights the logistical challenges and environmental concerns surrounding the largest World Cup ever held.