Gianni Infantino intends to attend two World Cup matches per day whenever possible for the remainder of the tournament, despite the immense geographical distances between venues.
To facilitate this ambitious schedule, the FIFA president is utilizing a private jet provided by Qatar Airways as part of a value-in-kind sponsorship agreement. This transport is essential as Infantino navigates the vast distances spanning the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Following the tournament’s opening match in Mexico City last Thursday, Infantino traveled immediately to Guadalajara for the clash between South Korea and Czechia. His itinerary continued Friday in Los Angeles for the USA’s 4-1 victory over Paraguay, followed by Saturday visits to San Francisco and Vancouver to watch Qatar vs. Switzerland and Australia vs. Turkey.
While Infantino missed Sunday’s matches to host a FIFA summit in Miami with representatives from 211 member associations, he returned to Los Angeles that evening to watch Iran’s opening encounter against New Zealand.
FIFA sources confirmed that the 56-year-old president will maintain this rigorous pace as often as possible. This stands in stark contrast to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Infantino attended all 64 matches because the maximum distance between stadiums was only 46 miles.
The current tournament is vastly more complex, spanning four time zones and three countries, with 16 stadiums located up to 2,800 miles apart.
Infantino’s travel requirements are the most demanding of any individual at the event. Among the competing teams, Bosnia and Herzegovina face the most taxing group stage itinerary, covering 3,144 miles between Toronto, Los Angeles, and Seattle, while frequently returning to their training base in Salt Lake City.
The environmental impact of these distances has drawn criticism; the New Weather Institute has labeled this World Cup “the most polluting event ever.” The institute estimates the tournament will generate approximately 9 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, with air travel accounting for 7.7 million tons—more than four times the average emissions of World Cups held between 2010 and 2022.
