France National Team Flew ICE Deportation Charter Planes at World Cup

France’s national soccer team has been shuttling between World Cup venues on aircraft operated by Global Crossing Airlines, better known as GlobalX, the same charter carrier that runs the bulk of ICE deportation flights in the United States.

What happened

Images of the team posted on social media and flight tracking data show the French team have used Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) for at least three domestic flights between their World Cup games and base camp in Boston. That same airline charter company has operated more than half of ICE’s removal flights in 2024 and 2025.

The plane the French team took after their match against Paraguay has flown 44 deportation-related flights this year alone, and about 950 flights since 2022. The aircraft carrying the Frenchmen on 4 July was used to transfer detained immigrants from an Arizona detention center to Louisiana as recently as 1 July.

Why this matters for the charter market

Carriers routinely oscillate between operating ICE flights and other private entity charter flights, including athletic teams, within a week or even on the same day. That dual-use business model is exactly why GlobalX has become a name to watch on the tape.

Sports teams, celebrities, and government contracts all feed the same fleet. When one revenue stream faces political heat, the other can offset it, at least in theory.

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The political overlay

The French team has no shortage of players who have voiced their political beliefs, none louder than Mbappé. The captain, whose father is from Cameroon and whose mother is of Algerian descent, is among the greatest players the country has ever produced. He has repeatedly and emphatically spoken out against far-right politicians in France and supported teammates who have done the same.

Forward Ousmane Dembélé and defender Jules Koundé have made similar efforts to drive French citizens to the polls, as has forward Marcus Thuram. The optics of those same players flying on ICE-linked metal are, to put it mildly, awkward.

France is not alone

France is not the only country whose national teams have flown GlobalX aircraft between World Cup matches this summer. The Daily Mail reported last month that England’s national squad had a contract with GlobalX, and that Iran had also used the charter airline.

Options market and stocks to watch

Watch for headline risk and sponsor pressure to filter into a handful of names tied to the World Cup and charter aviation complex:

• JETMF: Global Crossing Airlines’ listing is the most direct read-through. Watch for reaction to any client pushback or new ICE contract disclosures.
• NKE: Nike outfits the French Football Federation. Watch for any sponsor commentary if the story keeps traveling.
• ADDS: Adidas is a major World Cup sponsor. Watch for tie-in risk across kit deals and team travel optics.
• FOX: Fox holds English-language World Cup rights in the US. Watch for how the broadcast partner handles the story on air.

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