Fifa is facing a PR nightmare as it's revealed that the Portugal national team flew on an aircraft used for some of the most disturbing mass deportations in the US. The plane, operated by Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX), was spotted carrying the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and co to Dallas on 4 July 2026 - just days after being utilised in a brutal deportation programme that left over 200 Venezuelans fearing for their lives.
Flight records show that this particular Airbus aircraft, tail number N837VA, was racking up the miles as part of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removal operation. And it's not just any old plane - GlobalX's N837VA has been flying high on deportation duty since May 2023, completing a staggering 1,580 flights, according to data from ICE Flight Monitor.
But things get even more sinister. The same aircraft was at the centre of a major controversy in March 2025 when it was used to deport over 200 Venezuelans to the notorious Cecot mega-prison in El Salvador - despite a judge's orders to turn back. Those on board reported being wrongly accused and subjected to physical and psychological abuse.
Fifa, you see, organised this particular flight for Portugal. But they're not talking about it - yet. Meanwhile, other top teams like France, England, and Iran have also hitched a ride with GlobalX during the tournament. It's a stinker of a situation that human rights advocates are crying foul over.
Anthony Enriquez, an attorney with the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, has slammed the use of these planes: "It normalises human rights abuses," he says. "The football federations need to think twice about their contracts and make sure they're not inadvertently perpetuating some pretty grim stuff."
With FIFA's silence on the matter only adding to the controversy, it remains to be seen how this will play out - but one thing's for sure: the beautiful game just got a whole lot uglier.