Nearly 92,000 private jet flights in and out of World Cup host cities this summer generated carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to the annual output of more than 34,000 cars, according to an analysis by the Institute for Policy Studies' Tax Private Jets campaign.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino's private jet travel drew criticism after it was revealed he flew approximately 60,400 miles aboard a Gulfstream G650ER supplied by World Cup sponsor Qatar Airways. The campaign's tracking indicated his jet logged 52 flights during the tournament, emitting an estimated 600 tons of carbon dioxide. Data shows the jet often transported him to multiple matches across different U.S., Canadian, and Mexican cities on the same day. During the period between the quarterfinals and semifinals, Infantino reportedly made an 11,500-mile round trip to Qatar to offer condolences.
New Jersey's East Rutherford, home to MetLife Stadium, emerged as the most polluting host city. Across eight games held there, 21,289 private jet flights resulted in 39.42 kilotons of excess carbon dioxide. The tournament's final, attended by numerous VIPs and celebrities, saw 3,338 private aircraft flights, generating 12.06 kilotons of excess carbon dioxide on the final day alone.
Arlington, Texas, ranked second, with 14,110 private jet flights generating 24.51 kilotons of excess carbon dioxide during nine games. Miami followed with 5,378 flights and 14.93 kilotons from seven matches.
Celebrities including Kylie Jenner and Drake were noted to have utilized private jets for travel to the final. Jenner's jet landed at New Jersey's Teterboro Airport, while Drake's flew from Toronto to John F. Kennedy International Airport. Other notable figures like Tom Cruise and the Beckhams were also in attendance, though it was not confirmed if they arrived via private aircraft.
Chuck Collins, director of the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Studies, criticized the level of private jet usage. He stated that the planet cannot afford such environmental and economic costs and advocated for taxing private jet owners and urging FIFA to ban private jet use and meet its climate targets.
The total excess carbon dioxide emissions from the tournament's private jets amounted to 145.8 kilotons, representing approximately 15.2 million gallons of jet fuel. If taxed at the rate proposed by Senator Ed Markey's FATCAT Act, this fuel would have generated an additional $26.7 million for public coffers, compared to the estimated $3.3 million generated at the current tax rate.
FIFA has committed to reducing its own emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2040, as outlined in its World Cup sustainability strategy. However, the Private Jet Accountability Project is petitioning FIFA to prohibit private jets from future tournaments entirely.
The 2030 World Cup is scheduled to be hosted across Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with additional centenary matches in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.