FIFA boss Gianni Infantino blasted for jetting 31,000 miles despite green pledge

FIFA president Gianni Infantino faced criticism after flying about 31,000 miles between World Cup matches in a two-week period despite making climate-related commitments. Investigators tracked flightpaths of a private jet linked to FIFA and Infantino, finding he attended 27 flights across cities in the tournament co-host nations—US, Mexico and Canada—to watch 24 matches. The report says he sometimes attended two games in a day, and on some days took three separate flights between locations hundreds of miles apart. It also states he used a Gulfstream G650ER, with the longest single journey reported as 2,800 miles from Vancouver to Miami on June 13. The aircraft reportedly traveled at least 31,144 miles and spent more than 66 hours in the air between the tournament start and June 27. FIFA responded that the president travels with relevant officials for business and tournament matters and uses commercial airlines or private charter depending on efficiency and cost-effectiveness. A BBC-calculated comparison said the jet’s impact over the fortnight was equivalent to emissions from 78 people over a year.