Key facts
- The French men's national soccer team utilized Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) for at least three domestic flights during the World Cup.
- GlobalX is a primary operator of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation flights.
- An investigation by The Guardian highlighted GlobalX's role in transporting thousands of detainees without notice.
- The aircraft used by the French team has a history of conducting deportation flights, including transfers of detained immigrants.
- Several French national team players, including Kylian Mbappé, have publicly opposed far-right political movements.
The French men’s national soccer team has utilized Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX), a charter company heavily involved in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation flights, for domestic travel during the World Cup. Images and flight data indicate the team used GlobalX for at least three flights between games and their base camp.
GlobalX has operated more than half of ICE's removal flights in 2024 and 2025. A 2025 investigation by The Guardian, based on leaked GlobalX data, revealed the company's extensive role in transporting thousands of detainees domestically and internationally without notice, often to locations far from their families and legal counsel. Experts have raised concerns about potential violations of due process rights, with some detainees reporting being kept in the dark about their destinations or being shackled.
The specific aircraft used by the French team has a significant history of deportation-related flights. According to ICE Flight Monitor data, the plane the French team took on July 4th had previously transferred detained immigrants from Arizona to Louisiana as recently as July 1st. This same aircraft has flown approximately 44 deportation-related flights this year and around 950 flights since 2022.
It is common for certain carriers to operate both ICE flights and private charter flights, including those for athletic teams, within a short timeframe. The French team's use of GlobalX came to light after a video posted on the team's official Instagram showed players boarding a flight from Philadelphia to Boston, with the GlobalX logo visible on the aircraft.
The French national team includes several players, notably Kylian Mbappé, who have been vocal critics of far-right politicians and anti-immigration policies in France. Mbappé has described gains by the National Rally party as "catastrophic" and urged young people to prevent the country from falling under their influence. Other teammates have also encouraged citizens to vote. Reports indicate that other national teams, including England and Iran, have also used GlobalX aircraft.