France Soccer Team Uses Deportation Plane Company

The French men's national soccer team utilized Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) for at least three domestic flights during their World Cup journey between matches and their base camp in Boston. This airline company has been a significant operator for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), conducting more than half of ICE's removal flights in both 2024 and 2025. The revelation comes as the team's star player, Kylian Mbappé, is known for his public opposition to far-right political figures. Flight tracking data and social media posts from the French team confirmed their use of GlobalX. The airline's involvement in mass deportations under the Trump administration has drawn scrutiny, with the company at the center of the administration's campaign. The use of this specific charter company by the national soccer team highlights a connection between sports travel and controversial immigration enforcement operations. GlobalX's extensive work with ICE underscores the scale of deportation flights it facilitates annually, with the company having operated 44 such flights in 2024 alone. This situation raises questions about the ethical considerations and public perception surrounding the travel arrangements of high-profile national sports teams.