Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portugal men's soccer team traveled to a World Cup match on a plane that the Trump administration uses daily for mass deportations. The aircraft, a Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) Airbus with tail number N837VA, flew the team to Dallas on 4 July for a match against Spain. Flight records show the same plane conducted removal-related flights the day before and after carrying the Portuguese athletes.
Plane Used for Deportations to Salvadoran Mega-Prison
The aircraft was central to the US government's March 2025 deportation of over 200 Venezuelans to Cecot, a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador. Despite a judge ordering the planes to turn around due to lack of due process, the flights proceeded. El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele posted a video showing the same plane and tail number. Some Venezuelans on board claim they were wrongly accused of being gang members and suffered abuse at Cecot.
GlobalX's Role in ICE Deportations
According to data from ICE Flight Monitor, provided to the Guardian by Human Rights First, the aircraft has conducted more than 1,580 removal-related flights since May 2023, making it one of the most commonly used planes in the Trump administration's mass deportation operation. GlobalX has not responded to requests for comment. The Guardian's 2025 investigation revealed GlobalX moves thousands of detainees under an ICE contract, often without notifying families or legal counsel.
FIFA's Involvement and Other Teams
Ricardo Quaresma of the Portuguese football federation said FIFA organized the 4 July GlobalX flight. FIFA has not responded to multiple requests for comment. Portugal is not alone; the Guardian reported France's national team also used GlobalX for at least three flights, including on 12 July to Dallas for a semi-final. The Daily Mail reported England and Iran also used GlobalX during the tournament.
Criticism and Normalization of Human Rights Abuses
Anthony Enriquez, attorney at the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, said using GlobalX for both athletes and deportations builds "normalization" around human rights abuses. He stated, "The companies that are ferrying the footballers – they’re really trying to downplay their role in a serious human rights crisis in the United States using sports and football and the World Cup to whitewash some of their other bad deeds." He urged football federations to withdraw from contracts with such companies. Earlier this year, Avelo Airlines ended its ICE deportation flights contract, citing insufficient profitability, after thousands petitioned against it.
