Infantino's World Cup plan: Two matches daily via private jet sparks climate concerns

FIFA President Gianni Infantino intends to watch two World Cup matches per day whenever feasible, despite the vast distances involved in the tournament spanning the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He will travel using a private jet provided by Qatar Airways, a sponsor of FIFA.

Infantino's schedule has been packed since the tournament's start. After attending the opening match in Mexico City, he flew to watch South Korea's victory over the Czech Republic. The following day, he was in Los Angeles for the U.S. match, followed by games in San Francisco and Vancouver. While private jets are typically reserved for heads of state, Infantino will also receive this privilege, with costs covered by the organizing committees.

FIFA sources, speaking anonymously, emphasized the importance of Infantino attending as many games as possible. He managed to watch all 64 matches of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the maximum distance between stadiums was only 74 kilometers. This year's tournament, however, spans four time zones and three countries, with venues up to 4,500 kilometers apart.

The extensive travel has drawn sharp criticism regarding its environmental impact. The New Weather Institute labeled this World Cup the "most polluting event ever," estimating around 9 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Air travel alone is projected to contribute 7.7 million tons, four times the average of previous World Cups. John Hassevar, a program director at Greenpeace USA, stated that officials taking daily, highly polluting private jet flights sends the wrong message about FIFA's recognition of the climate crisis and its responsibility to address it.

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The extreme heat is already a problem at this World Cup, both for players and fans. The fact that officials are taking daily, highly polluting private jet flights, hardly sends the message that FIFA recognizes the problem and its responsibility to help tackle climate change.