Fifa flies Portugal's World Cup team on plane used for ICE deportations

FIFA flights Portugal’s World Cup team on an aircraft tied to ICE deportation operations, raising questions about how the same plane has been used for removal flights. The reported GlobalX Airbus, with tail number N837VA, carried Portugal to Dallas on 4 July ahead of their Spain match, and flight records reviewed by The Guardian show removals on the day before and after. The same aircraft has been linked to a March 2025 U.S. deportation of more than 200 Venezuelans to Cecot, where a judge ordered planes to turn around after due-process concerns, though flights still reached El Salvador. FIFA arranged the 4 July trip, according to Ricardo Quaresma. The Guardian says GlobalX has conducted more than 1,580 removal-related flights since May 2023. Fifa and GlobalX did not respond to requests for comment.