Many have wondered how FIFA President Gianni Infantino manages to attend two matches per day during the 2026 World Cup, despite the vast distances between host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. However, The Guardian has uncovered the mechanism behind the Swiss official’s hectic travel schedule.
Infantino previously attended every single match at the Qatar 2022 World Cup. That feat was relatively straightforward given the close proximity of stadiums within the Gulf nation—a stark contrast to the massive geographical sprawl of the 2026 edition.
According to The Guardian, Infantino has a private jet at his disposal, provided by Qatar Airways as part of its sponsorship agreement with FIFA. This jet serves as his primary means for rapid travel across North America to catch multiple games.
Despite the immense physical toll and exhaustion, Infantino remains determined to watch two matches daily. To facilitate this, US authorities have granted him expedited transit and special clearance through airports, making it significantly easier to navigate the tight schedules between various fixtures.
The FIFA chief kicked off his tournament by attending the opening match in Mexico City between Mexico and South Africa, before swiftly flying to Guadalajara to watch South Korea defeat the Czech Republic on day one of the 2026 World Cup.
The following day, Infantino surfaced in Los Angeles for the USA vs. Paraguay clash. On Saturday, he commuted between San Francisco and Vancouver to attend the Qatar vs. Switzerland and Australia vs. Turkey matches. Most recently, he was spotted in Seattle for the Egypt vs. Belgium game, before wrapping up his tour back in Los Angeles for Iran vs. New Zealand.
However, these vast travel distances have drawn heavy criticism. The New Weather Institute has labeled this edition of the World Cup as “the most polluting event ever,” estimating that the tournament will generate approximately 9 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent ($CO_2e$).
