Infantino Travels 60,000 Miles for 2026 World Cup

Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, covered close to 60,000 air miles during the 2026 World Cup tournament held in the US, Canada, and Mexico. He flew for over 115 hours, attending 43 matches across 16 stadiums, and visited 21 airports while crossing international borders 23 times.

Infantino, 53, utilized a Gulfstream G650 owned by a subsidiary of Qatar Airways and averaged more than one flight per day throughout the tournament. His travel included a trip to Doha to attend the funeral of the former emir before returning for the semi-finals.

In addition to match attendance, Infantino participated in meetings, media opportunities, and official functions in North America. His extensive travel has raised concerns regarding the environmental impact of the 48-team World Cup, with activists arguing that the three-nation hosting will lead to the most carbon-intensive tournament in history.

FIFA has pledged to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2040.