With FIFA well underway in North America, it has come to light that the French men’s national soccer team has been using a Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) aircraft for a number of domestic flights to World Cup games. The team is currently based in Boston, and has used the aircraft to attend at least three of their games.

GlobalX has also been part of Trump’s deportation program, with its fleet of aircraft operating more than half of ICE removal flights in recent years, according to The Guardian. While it is common for major sports teams to use charter aircraft to meet scheduling demands, this aircraft has been part of a controversial movement of those deported from the United States.

Global Crossing Aircraft Used By The French Men’s Soccer Team

Credit: Shutterstock

The belief that the French team is flying with GlobalX has come to light after the team’s Instagram reel showed players boarding the aircraft and making their way to the seats onboard, where a GlobalX logo was spotted on the overhead compartment.

The crossover between the FIFA team and deportation flights is notably close, with recent reports of the aircraft having flown detained immigrants between Arizona and Louisiana at the beginning of the month, while transporting the French men’s team on July 4. It is common for certain carriers to oscillate between private charters and ICE flights.

GlobalX also has contracts with the English Football Association, which is the England men’s team, and the Iranian football team to transport team members to and from games during the FIFA tournament.

A Close Call Between The Far-Right and the Far-Left

Credit: GlobalX

What makes this situation so unique is that some of the French football team’s players are of African descent. Kylian Mbappé, the French national footballer, has ties to Cameroon and Algeria and has repeatedly spoken out against far-right politicians, calling out the ‘catastrophic’ anti-immigration National Rallies. Other teammates have agreed with Mbappé’s comments, as the team reflects the nation’s culturally diverse population.

With many of the French team’s perspectives on anti-immigration, the close call with the GlobalX use of aircraft for Trump’s deportation program is a prime example of how sport and politics can collide, given the current US President’s deportation program, which is an aggressive mass removal of immigrants, which is the highest in US history. Trump’s program is set to target around 11 million individuals, and the administration has invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

Around $170 billion has been dedicated to this program, and it has involved federal agencies such as ICE and Border Patrol, which enforce targeted, large-scale operations that involve the use of the National Guard. The strategy relies on enforcement at persons’ homes, traffic stops, and through courthouses, and is widely viewed as creating widespread fear for those who are undocumented.

Charter Aircraft Are Being Used Across The FIFA Tournament

Credit: JetBlue

FIFA teams are utilizing both narrowbody and widebody aircraft for regional and international travel to and from North America across the tournament, and specific airplanes vary depending on the team and route. Squads have been spotted using airlines and aircraft.

While GlobalX has been operating for the French team, among others, for domestic travel throughout the tournament, it will likely be put straight back to work after its needs have been met for FIFA, returning to its contract for ongoing work with the deportation program for the Trump administration.