The world is watching as the Fifa World Cup unfolds across North America – but it's not just the players who are making headlines. A bombshell investigation by BBC has revealed that Fifa President Gianni Infantino has racked up a staggering 31,144 air miles, jetting between matches in private luxury. The sheer scale of his travel plans – 27 flights to just 24 games – is sparking outrage over the carbon footprint it's leaving behind.
The current World Cup format, with its 16 host cities across three countries, was always going to be a logistical nightmare for officials like Infantino. But with him regularly attending two games a day, often separated by thousands of miles, one can't help but wonder: is this really what sustainability looks like?
Flight data reveals that the Gulfstream G650ER private jet he's been using has spent an eye-watering 66 hours in the air since the tournament began. And on June 15th, Infantino took a gruelling one-day journey from Miami to Seattle and then down to Los Angeles – a total of over 4,000 miles covered in just two sectors.
The numbers are stark: estimates suggest his private jet travels have produced around 516 tonnes of CO2e – equivalent to the annual emissions of nearly 80 average individuals. It's a carbon footprint that puts Fifa's own sustainability commitments into sharp relief. As President Infantino himself vowed, "We're committed to playing our part" in tackling climate change – but it seems his actions speak louder than words.
For now, Fifa remains tight-lipped about the specifics of Infantino's travel plans, with no comment forthcoming on our requests for information. But one thing is clear: as the world watches this tournament unfold, it's also watching with a critical eye – and holding Fifa to account for its actions.
Source: BBC Verify and BBC