In spite of numerous commitments to address climate change and foster sustainability, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has inadvertently played a role in one of the most environmentally damaging tournaments in sports history.
Throughout the 39-day event spanning the USA, Canada, and Mexico, Infantino’s air travel accumulated nearly 96,560 kilometers.
The circumference of the Earth measures about 40,075 kilometers, meaning Infantino effectively circled the globe more than TWICE during the World Cup.
Moreover, the Swiss FIFA head chose the Gulfstream G650 for his travels, a jet operated by the charter sector of Qatar Airways, a key sponsor of the tournament.
Infantino attended one match on 31 out of the 34 match days, successfully managing to watch two games in one day on 13 occasions.
Overall, he participated in 44 out of the 104 matches hosted.
GOAT & BOAT
Catch Lionel Messi with an Inter Miami ticket and Caribbean cruise starting at just £1,479
Sun-sational
From the best fans to star players, SunSport’s World Cup awards unveiled
His shortest flight during this span lasted just 28 minutes on July 6, traveling from Seattle to Vancouver.
FIFA does have a Climate Strategy aimed at cutting carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2040.
However, this target appears uncertain. The 2026 World Cup is projected to produce about 9 million tons of GHG emissions, a staggering 137 percent increase from Qatar 2022.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
Air travel is estimated to contribute approximately 7.7 million tons to this carbon footprint, which is roughly four times the average for tournaments held from 2010 to 2022.
This would render the tournament one of the most ecologically harmful sporting events in human history.
In FIFA’s 2026 World Cup sustainability and human rights strategy, Infantino declared: “Whether it’s climate, human rights, diseases, or disabilities, we are committed to doing our part.”
As long as it doesn’t impact his match attendance, it seems.
