The French men’s national soccer team has come under scrutiny for its use of Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) for travel during the World Cup. The charter company, which has been used by the team for at least three domestic flights between tournament games and their base camp in Boston, is the same carrier responsible for operating more than half of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removal flights in 2024 and 2025.
Flight tracking data and social media imagery confirmed the team utilized the airline, including a flight from Philadelphia to Boston following their 1-0 victory over Paraguay. On that flight, a GlobalX logo was visible on an overhead compartment as players, including London-born Bayern Munich forward Michael Olise, boarded the aircraft. The Guardian analyzed aircraft data on the flight tracking website Flightradar24, which showed an Airbus departing Philadelphia international airport around midnight eastern time on 5 July and arriving at Boston Logan international airport about 1am. Researchers at the ICE Flight Monitor matched the flight to an aircraft frequently used for immigration enforcement, noting that the carrier’s involvement in such operations has been documented since 2017.
A 2025 investigation by The Guardian highlighted that GlobalX has been central to the Trump administration’s mass deportation program. Data analysis revealed that the company has transported thousands of detainees—often without prior notice—to locations far from their legal counsel and communities. These operations have included flights to El Salvador’s Cecot mega-prison, with many detainees reporting they were kept uninformed of their destination and shackled during transport. Experts have raised concerns that these practices violate constitutional due process rights.
The situation is notable given the outspoken political stance of several French team members, particularly captain Kylian Mbappé. A vocal critic of far-right politics, Mbappé has previously described the rise of France’s anti-immigration National Rally party as “catastrophic.” Other players, including Ousmane Dembélé, Jules Koundé, and Marcus Thuram, have also been active in encouraging civic engagement and opposing right-wing movements. Despite these public positions, neither the French national team nor GlobalX responded to multiple requests for comment regarding the travel arrangements.
Sierra Randolph, a data manager for ICE Flight Monitor, noted that it is common for certain carriers to alternate between operating ICE flights and private charters for entities like athletic teams, sometimes within the same week or even on the same day. France is not the only nation linked to the carrier; reports indicate that both England and Iran have also used GlobalX aircraft for their World Cup travel.
Mbappé this week made headlines after he hit back at a Paraguayan senator, describing her as a “despicable woman” after she launched a racist attack on him.
