Overview
- On Tuesday, news outlets reported that Gianni Infantino plans to attend two matches a day at the 2026 World Cup and would use a private jet provided by sponsor Qatar Airways, a claim based on unnamed FIFA sources.
- Greenpeace publicly condemned those reports, saying daily private‑jet travel by officials would contradict FIFA's stated climate commitments and damage the federation's credibility.
- FIFA issued a statement to The Athletic saying travel for officials is governed by internal rules, that both chartered and commercial flights may be used depending on efficiency and cost, and that FIFA pays travel expenses.
- Independent analysis from the New Weather Institute estimates the 2026 tournament will cause about 9 million tonnes of CO2‑equivalent with roughly 7.7 million tonnes from aviation, a figure critics cite to underline the scale of emissions.
- The tournament’s 16 venues across the United States, Canada and Mexico create long inter‑stadium distances of up to about 4,500 kilometres, a logistical reality that raises both practical travel strains and political pressure on FIFA over optics and sponsorship ties.