France’s World Cup Players Caught in a Dubious Travel Arrangement

The recent revelation that France’s national soccer team has been using charter flights operated by Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) raises more questions than it answers. GlobalX is a company at the center of controversy for its role in transporting thousands of detainees domestically and internationally without notice.

This juxtaposition is jarring, given the team’s vocal criticism of far-right politics and xenophobia. Kylian Mbappé, for example, has publicly denounced Marine Le Pen and her National Rally party, urging young people in France to reject their ideology. However, the team’s use of GlobalX aircraft highlights a more nuanced reality – one that blurs the lines between state-sponsored deportations and private entities profiting from them.

Flight data analysis reveals that GlobalX operated over half of ICE’s removal flights in 2024 and 2025, transporting detainees to locations far from their families and communities. The company has also flown migrants to El Salvador’s notorious Cecot prison, where many have been shackled at their hands and feet without being informed of their destination. This disturbing picture highlights the complexities of state-private partnerships in facilitating deportations.

The use of GlobalX by France’s national team raises questions about complicity and accountability. Was this arrangement a deliberate choice or simply a convenient option? The French team’s representatives have remained silent on the matter, while GlobalX itself has refused to comment on its involvement with both ICE and the World Cup teams. This lack of transparency only adds to the sense of unease surrounding these revelations.

France is not alone in using GlobalX aircraft during the World Cup. England and Iran have also reportedly used the charter airline, sparking concerns about a broader pattern of complicity in state-sponsored deportations. As we examine the intersection of sports, politics, and human rights, it becomes clear that the use of GlobalX by France’s national team is just one aspect of a larger issue that requires attention and scrutiny.

The implications for professional sports, athletes who have long been vocal about their social and political views, and the millions of people affected by state-private partnerships in deportations are far-reaching. As we continue to navigate this complex web of interests and allegiances, it is essential to examine the role of private entities like GlobalX in facilitating deportations and to hold those involved accountable for their actions.