FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing renewed criticism over his extensive air travel during the ongoing World Cup, with environmental groups accusing him of ignoring the climate impact of his packed match schedule across North America.
The Swiss-Italian football chief has reportedly attended matches in multiple cities — including Mexico City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, Seattle, Kansas City, Houston and Guadalajara — making repeated journeys aboard a private jet as he moves from venue to venue within short timeframes.
Observers say Infantino has already attended about 10 matches in just seven days, relying heavily on a Qatar Airways-operated private aircraft to keep up with the tournament’s rapid schedule.
His travel habits are not new. Investigative reporting in 2024 previously revealed that he had logged an estimated 600,000 kilometres over three years using the same aircraft, raising early concerns about his carbon footprint.
But the expanded format of the 2026 World Cup — now featuring 48 teams and 104 matches across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — has intensified scrutiny of executive travel, particularly as FIFA’s leadership moves between widely separated host cities.
Environmental analysts warn that the emissions linked to such movement are significant. One carbon assessment firm noted that just a single hour of private jet flight can produce emissions comparable to what an average person generates in a full year.
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If the current travel pattern continues, estimates suggest Infantino’s tournament-related flights alone could generate between 300 and 500 tons of CO₂, equivalent to the annual emissions of dozens of individuals in Europe.
While FIFA has defended its travel arrangements as being based on efficiency and cost considerations, critics argue the organisation’s structure inherently encourages high-emission mobility.
A geography expert from the University of Lausanne described the situation as a “sustainability paradox,” arguing that hosting matches across vast distances effectively forces reliance on air travel, even as the sport promotes environmental responsibility.
Environmental campaigners have also weighed in, with Greenpeace USA’s oceans campaign director saying repeated private jet use by football officials sends the wrong signal at a time of growing climate concern.
The issue is not limited to FIFA executives alone. Past tournaments have also recorded heavy private jet traffic, with the 2022 World Cup in Qatar reportedly attracting nearly 2,000 such flights, underscoring the environmental cost of global mega-events.
As the tournament progresses, pressure is mounting on football’s governing body to reconcile its expanding global footprint with increasingly urgent climate expectations.