FIFA Flies Portugal World Cup Team on ICE Deportation Plane 2026

FIFA has come under fire after it was revealed that the plane used to fly the Portugal men’s soccer team to a World Cup match is the same aircraft used daily for the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign. The Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) Airbus, tail number N837VA, transported the Portuguese athletes to Dallas on 4 July for their match against Spain, just one day after and one day before it was used for deportation flights carrying Venezuelan detainees to a Salvadoran mega-prison.

How the Same Plane Was Used for Deportations

Flight records reviewed by The Guardian show that the Airbus N837VA was central to the US government’s March 2025 deportation of more than 200 Venezuelans to the notorious Cecot mega-prison in El Salvador. Despite a judge’s order to turn the planes around, the flights proceeded and landed in El Salvador, violating due process. Video posted by El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, confirmed the same aircraft and tail number.

FIFA’s Role and Relationship with Trump

Ricardo Quaresma of the Portuguese football federation confirmed that FIFA organized the 4 July GlobalX flight. This connection raises questions about FIFA’s ties to the Trump administration, as President Donald Trump has called FIFA President Gianni Infantino a “great friend.” The controversy deepened after a red card against the US men’s team was dismissed following a personal phone call between the two leaders. FIFA has not responded to multiple requests for comment.

Comparison of GlobalX Flight Usage

Key Takeaways

• FIFA organized the flight for Portugal’s World Cup team on a plane used for ICE deportations.
• The same aircraft was involved in the controversial March 2025 deportation of Venezuelans to El Salvador.
• Trump and Infantino’s friendship has sparked scrutiny over FIFA’s impartiality during the World Cup.
• Detainees were transported without notice to families or legal counsel, violating due process.

FAQ

This investigation by The Guardian highlights the troubling overlap between sports and immigration enforcement, as GlobalX continues to profit from both FIFA contracts and ICE agreements. The Portugal team has also flown with American Airlines and TAP Air Portugal during the tournament, but the use of this particular aircraft has sparked global outrage.