Gianni Infantino’s private‑jet travel fuels carbon‑impact debate at World Cup 2026

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has repeatedly used a Qatar Airways private jet to move between the widely separated venues of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Analysts at Greenly estimate that a single hour in his jet emits as much CO₂ as an average person does in a year, and that his travel throughout the tournament could total 300‑500 tonnes of CO₂ – roughly the annual emissions of 35‑55 French citizens. Records show Infantino logged about 600,000 kilometres on private flights during the three years preceding the tournament. FIFA says officials choose commercial or private travel "based on what is most effective and economical" and that the organization covers the costs. Critics argue the itinerary highlights the event’s systemic dependence on air travel and undermines FIFA’s climate‑sustainability rhetoric. The discussion is framed against a backdrop of past emissions, such as the 1,846 private jets recorded at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, and future plans, including the 2027 women’s tournament in Brazil and the centennial 2030 men’s tournament spanning Morocco, Portugal and Spain.