BBC: Infantino made 27 private jet flights during the World Cup
The BBC reported that FIFA President Gianni Infantino made at least 27 flights using a private jet during the group stage of the World Cup in North America. This information comes from an analysis of flight movements linked to a plane associated with FIFA. According to the report, Infantino attended 24 matches across the United States, Canada, and Mexico within 16 days, with the aircraft traveling over 50,000 kilometers and spending more than 66 hours in the air. The longest flight covered over 4,500 kilometers from Vancouver to Miami. Some days saw three separate flights, allowing Infantino to attend multiple matches in a single day. The BBC estimates that the carbon emissions from these flights were equivalent to the annual average emissions of 78 people worldwide, based on fuel consumption calculations for a Gulfstream G650ER. However, the exact emissions cannot be determined due to unknown factors like passenger numbers and actual fuel usage. FIFA did not confirm that Infantino used the specific aircraft but stated that the president regularly travels for work-related duties, sometimes using commercial flights or chartered private jets depending on efficiency and cost-effective
Infantino's use of a private jet during the World Cup has sparked significant criticism due to its environmental impact. The tournament, held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico across 16 cities, featured more matches than previous editions, largely due to the expanded group stage format. According to reports from BBC Verify and BBC Sport, a private jet linked to FIFA and Infantino completed 27 flights during the tournament, connecting the president to various host cities where he was photographed attending matches. These flights, which spanned two weeks, were estimated to have emitted greenhouse gases equivalent to the annual emissions of approximately 78 individuals globally.
The extensive travel schedule saw Infantino frequently attend multiple matches per day, often in cities hundreds of kilometers apart. On some days, the aircraft made as many as three flights. One of the longest recorded trips occurred on June 13th, when the plane flew from Vancouver to Miami—a distance of around 4,507 kilometers—following a match between Australia and Turkey. Shorter flights included a journey from Philadelphia to Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, covering about 148 kilometers. Although Infantino did not attend a match in this area, he later visited the Fox News studio in New York before proceeding to games in Boston and Toronto.
On June 15th, the flight pattern was particularly intense, with the plane traveling over 4,000 kilometers from Miami to Seattle, where Infantino watched the Belgium vs Egypt match, followed by a 1,545-kilometer trip to Los Angeles for the evening match between Iran and New Zealand. From the start of the tournament until June 27th, the private jet covered a minimum of 50,122 kilometers and spent over 66 hours airborne. Given the fuel consumption rate of the Gulfstream G650ER, which is believed to be the model used, the average fuel burn was approximately 1,817 liters per hour.
A representative from FIFA stated that travel arrangements can vary, using either commercial airlines or chartered private jets depending on efficiency and cost-effectiveness. However, Freddie Daley from the climate action network Cool Down criticized FIFA’s reliance on private jets, calling it contradictory to the leadership standards required for addressing environmental issues. He noted that the choice of private aviation undermines FIFA’s commitment to sustainability, especially given the organization’s pledge to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2040.
FIFA had previously faced scrutiny over its claims of sustainability, including accusations from Swiss regulators in 2023 that the organization misrepresented its efforts regarding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar being carbon-neutral. Despite these past criticisms, the current situation highlights ongoing challenges in aligning high-profile international sports events with global environmental goals. As the 2026 World Cup progresses, the debate over the environmental impact of such large-scale events continues to gain traction among climate organizations and public figures.
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The BBC reported that FIFA President Gianni Infantino made at least 27 flights using a private jet during the group stage of the World Cup in North America. This information comes from an analysis of flight movements linked to a plane associated with FIFA. According to the report, Infantino attended 24 matches across the United States, Canada, and Mexico within 16 days, with the aircraft traveling over 50,000 kilometers and spending more than 66 hours in the air. The longest flight covered over 4,500 kilometers from Vancouver to Miami. Some days saw three separate flights, allowing Infantino to attend multiple matches in a single day. The BBC estimates that the carbon emissions from these flights were equivalent to the annual average emissions of 78 people worldwide, based on fuel consumption calculations for a Gulfstream G650ER. However, the exact emissions cannot be determined due to unknown factors like passenger numbers and actual fuel usage. FIFA did not confirm that Infantino used the specific aircraft but stated that the president regularly travels for work-related duties, sometimes using commercial flights or chartered private jets depending on efficiency and cost-effective
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual data from the BBC regarding the number of flights and their environmental impact, without overtly favoring one side. It includes both the claims by the BBC and the response from FIFA, providing a balanced view of the situation.
Why these scores (Factual 95 · Objective 90): Accurate summary of the BBC report, correctly citing the 27 flights, distances traveled, and emissions estimates. Some minor details like 'zestien dagen tijd' (sixteen days) slightly differ from the BBC's 'two weeks,' but overall highly faithful.
Klix.baIndependentProgressiveFactual 90Objective 858 days ago
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across three countries—United States, Canada, and Mexico—involves 16 host cities and more matches than previous tournaments due to an expanded group stage format. BBC Verify and BBC Sport investigated the private jet linked to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, which made 27 flights during the tournament. According to their analysis, the environmental impact of these flights over two weeks equates to the annual emissions of approximately 78 people on average. Infantino attended multiple matches daily, often traveling between cities hundreds of kilometers apart, with some days involving up to three flights. The longest recorded flight was from Vancouver to Miami, covering around 4,507 kilometers. The total distance traveled by the plane from the start of the tournament until June 27 was at least 50,122 kilometers, with over 66 hours spent in the air. Critics argue that the use of a private jet contradicts FIFA’s leadership role in promoting environmental sustainability. FIFA has committed to reducing emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2040.
Bias read (Progressive): The article highlights criticism of FIFA president Gianni Infantino's use of a private jet during the World Cup, emphasizing the environmental impact and contrasting it with FIFA's stated goals of sustainability. This framing critiques high-level decision-making and corporate practices within a key,
Why these scores (Factual 90 · Objective 85): Correctly reports the 27 flights, distances, and emissions comparison to 78 people. However, the translation of 'group stage' as 'grupne faze' and some phrasing introduces slight imprecision. The article also adds context about criticism, which isn't in the primary source, slightly affecting objecti
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