World Cup 2026: FIFA Placed National Team on ICE Deportation Plane

The Portuguese National Team traveled to their World Cup Round of 16 match against Spain on an aircraft regularly used in the Trump administration's mass deportation campaigns in the United States. The Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) plane transported the Portuguese squad to Dallas on July 4th, where they suffered a 0-1 defeat to La Roja.

According to The Guardian, videos of the journey show the aircraft's registration number, N837VA. An analysis of this Airbus's flight records reveals that the plane conducted immigrant removal flights both the day before and the day after transporting the Portuguese delegation.

This same aircraft was involved in March 2025 in the deportation of over 200 Venezuelans to the notorious Cecot mega-prison in El Salvador. This action disregarded a court order that mandated the planes return due to a lack of due process. In a video published by El Salvador's president, Nayib Bukele, the aircraft and its registration number are clearly visible.

The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed that FIFA organized the flight with GlobalX. Throughout the tournament, the national team had previously traveled with other carriers, such as American Airlines and TAP.

The aircraft that transported the national team is one of the most frequently used by the Trump administration for deportations, under a contract with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to data provided to The Guardian by ICE Flight Monitor, this plane has conducted over 1580 removal flights since May 2023.

Accounts from detainees transported on these flights describe being frequently handcuffed at their hands and feet, without prior notice to their families or lawyers, and without knowing their destination. Some of the Venezuelan men who were aboard the same plane as the Portuguese national team claim to have been wrongly accused of gang affiliation and to have suffered physical and psychological abuse in Cecot.

Portugal is not the only national team to use GlobalX services during the World Cup. The Guardian had previously reported that the French national team used the company for at least three flights, including a July 12th trip for their semi-final match against Spain. The Daily Mail also reported that the England and Iran national teams flew with GlobalX.