July 1 – After clocking more than 50,000 kilometers by private jet in the group stages, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has kept jetting around North America to attend World Cup matches, defying FIFA’s climate commitments. 

In the knockout stages, he crossed from Miami to Los Angeles on a 3,700 kilometer jaunt to Canada’s 1-0 elimination of South Africa at Sofi Stadium. He left California for Texas to watch Brazil rally to a 2-1 win against Japan in Houston, flying 2,230 kilometers. From there, Infantino jetted to Monterey in Mexico – another 640 kilometers – to witness Morocco’s penalty shoutout victory against the Netherlands.

On Tuesday, Infantino sat alongside NFF president Lise Klaveness and Alfie Haaland (Erling’s Dad) in Dallas as Norway took on Ivory Coast, clocking 845 kilometers. He left soon after the final whistle to jet to Mexico City – a 1,500 kilometer haul – to take in the round of 32 fixture between co-host Mexico and Ecuador. In total, Infantino has amassed around 9,000 kilometers during the first days of the World Cup’s round of 32. 

Earlier this week, Norwegian investigative magazine Josimar reported that Infantino had flown 50,000 kilometers across the US, Mexico and Canada – or more than once around the earth. Infantino’s carbon footprint is enabled by FIFA’s sponsorship with Qatar Airways. The Gulf airline has provided an aircraft from its Qatar Executive fleet as a value-in-kind element to its sponsorship. 

BBC Verify estimated the climate impact from Infantino’s jetting over a fortnight to be roughly the equivalent of those from 78 people on average over a whole year.

FIFA is a signatory to the UN Sport for Climate Action Framework. The Framework includes a commitment to reducing emissions by 50% by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2040. 

Infantino has previous form jetting around the world, notably defying the coronavirus crisis, a global health crisis that killed millions, and during the 2023 Women’s World Cup when he departed the tournament for several days to tour the Pacific and consolidate his power base amongst the Oceanian federations.

Faced with criticism of the excesses, Infantino wrote on social media: “Chill, relax, live and let live!”

FIFA has maintained that “Sometimes travel is organised on commercial  airlines” but when asked to provide examples and proof of such arrangements during the current tournament, the world governing body failed to respond. 

FIFA has been contacted for comment. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]