The Men’s World Cup has just kicked off, with this year’s tournament taking place in North America—specifically in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. There are 48 participating countries, including 16 from Europe, 12 from the Americas, nine from Africa, eight from Asia, one from Oceania, and two others from the intercontinental playoffs. At the time of publication, most of them are at their respective training bases throughout the competition, spread across different cities in the three host countries.

The majority of the participating teams arrived on special flights, either on planes featuring country-specific liveries or on charter flights operated by foreign airlines. In this post, we take a look at those flights to the United States, Mexico or Canada, according to our database.

Algeria

On June 7th at 22:28 local time, Air Algerie’s Airbus A330-941, registration 7T-VLB, arrived in Kansas City from Algiers with the Algerian national team on board. This marks the airline’s first visit to Kansas, operating with a plane bearing special World Cup livery.

Argentina

The Argentine national team was one of the first to make its way to the United States, where it will be based for the next few weeks. Some of the players and the entire coaching staff departed from Ezeiza Airport in Buenos Aires on June 1st at 2:15 local time, landing in Kansas City at 11:18 local time after an 11-hour flight.

They flew on Aerolíneas Argentinas’ Airbus A330-202, registration LV-KAN, which features a special livery including Lionel Messi’s number 10 on the tail, covering flight AR1978. 1978 is the year Argentina won its first World Cup.

Australia

In late May, the Australian national team landed in the US from Melbourne aboard one of Qantas’ Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. As Qantas shared on its social media, the players took part in an event at the airline’s hangar at Los Angeles International Airport.

Austria

On Austrian Airlines‘ scheduled flight OS51, the Austrian national team touched down in Los Angeles for the World Cup on June 4th at 12:23 local time, arriving from Vienna. They traveled on the Boeing 777-2Z9(ER) with registration number OE-LPA, the first 777 added to Austrian’s fleet in September 2005.

Belgium

For the first time in its history, Brussels Airlines landed in Seattle.

On June 8th at 14:38 local time, the airline’s Airbus A330-343, registration OO-SFH, arrived at Tacoma International Airport from Brussels with the Belgian national team on board. The team flew on a specially chartered flight and was given a farewell ceremony in the Belgian capital prior to their departure for the World Cup.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Bosnia and Herzegovina national team landed in the United States on a scheduled Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt (flight LH448) operated by an Airbus A330-300. Lufthansa and British Airways are the European airlines that operate in St. Louis; the British carrier flies to and from London using Boeing 787s.

Brazil

Our most-tracked flight related to the World Cup 2026 to date was the Brazilian national team’s flight to the United States, which set a remarkable record, attracting over a million viewers throughout the journey.

On June 1st, just minutes before departure, the most-followed flights were near Rio de Janeiro’s Galeão Airport, from where they took off aboard an Aeronexus Boeing 767-35D(ER)—featuring stickers from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and Azul Linhas Aéreas, the Brazilian national team’s official airline—bound for Newark.

Cape Verde

One of the few charter flights on a narrow-body aircraft.

The Cape Verde national team traveled to Boston on a Boeing 737 MAX 8 operated by Cabo Verde Airlines, the country’s flag carrier. On flight VR7206, they departed from Praia heading for Lisbon, and then continued on to Boston two hours later, as the Portuguese capital served as a technical stopover.

Colombia

At 20:12 local time on June 4th, Avianca’s Airbus A320-251N, registration N906AV, landed at San Diego International Airport. The aircraft came from Bogota, operating charter flight AV280 for the Colombian national team. As the team’s official airline, Avianca painted an Airbus A320 with a special livery, and this aircraft was used to fly the team to the US.

Croatia

The Croatian national team touched down in Washington, D.C., on June 9th, arriving from Zagreb aboard a National Airlines Airbus A330-300. Afterwards, they traveled on to Alexandria (Virginia), where they will be based during the competition.

Curaçao

The Curaçao national team departed from Willemstad, the country’s capital, on June 6th at 14:48 local time, bound for West Palm Beach, where they landed at 17:31 local time. Their flight (CD2709) was on a Corendon Boeing 737 MAX 9 with registration number PH-CDQ, which will also operate charter flights between Curaçao and the United States in the coming days to transport Curaçaoans.

Czech Republic

On June 1st, Smartwings’ Boeing 737 MAX 8, registration OK-SWB, arrived in Newark after flying from Prague via Shannon with the Czech national team on board, operating flight QS2026. Four days later, they flew to Dallas Love Field on another charter flight, this time performed by Southwest.

England

The England national team traveled to the tournament aboard a charter flight conducted by Virgin Atlantic. They flew on Virgin Atlantic’s Airbus A350-1041, registration number G-VRNB, from Birmingham to West Palm Beach, marking the first time the airline had operated a flight between the two cities.

Egypt

On a Southwest Boeing 737 MAX 8, the Egyptian team landed in Spokane, where it will be based, on June 7th, arriving from Cleveland. The aircraft, registration N8922Q, operated a repositioning flight between Chicago Midway and Cleveland, and then another between Spokane and Denver.

France

At 14:06 local time on June 10th, La Compagnie’s Airbus A321-251NX(LR), with registry F-HNCO, took off from Le Bourget Airport in Paris, bound for Boston with the French national team on board. The team landed there the same day at 15:59 local time, having traveled on the aircraft which bears a French Football Federation sticker on its tail.

Germany

The German national team traveled from Frankfurt to Chicago, their base during the competition, on the regular Lufthansa flight between the two cities (LH434) on June 2nd. The players and coaching staff flew aboard the Airbus A350-941 with registration number D-AIXR, which features the recently launched Lufthansa Allegris premium and business class cabins.

Ghana

On board a Titan Airways Airbus A321-253NX(LR), the Ghana national team departed Cardiff on June 3rd bound for Washington, D.C., where it will be based throughout the World Cup. They had been in Wales since late May due to a friendly match against Wales held on June 2nd.

Iran

At 18:34 local time on June 6th, a Universal Sky Carrier charter flight carrying the Iranian national team took off from Antalya bound for Santiago de Compostela (Spain). The Spanish city served as a stopover on their journey to North America, specifically Tijuana, landing there on June 7th at 05:05 local time following a 20-hour trip.

Iran will play two group stage matches in Los Angeles and the remaining one in Seattle. Their base will be Tijuana.

Iraq

On June 5th, the Iraqi national team arrived at Chicago O’Hare International Airport from Santiago de Compostela aboard an Omni Air International Boeing 767-300(ER). The team had been in the Spanish city since early June, where they played a friendly match against Spain.

Japan

For the first time in its history, an All Nippon Airways aircraft landed in Monterrey.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registration JA933A, operated a charter flight on June 2nd between Tokyo Narita and Monterrey for the Japanese national team. It departed at 20:12 local time from the Japanese capital and landed that same day in Mexico at 16:23 local time after an 11-hour flight.

Morocco

On June 3rd at 18:25 local time, Royal Air Maroc’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registration number CN-RGY, landed in Newark from Rabat with the Moroccan national team on board. That same day, prior to the trip to the World Cup, the aircraft operated a repositioning flight from Casablanca to Rabat, which lasted 26 minutes.

Netherlands

At 16:52 local time on June 4th, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines’ Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, registration PH-BKA, departed Amsterdam bound for New York with the Dutch national team on board, landing there at 18:04 local time. Although KLM operates the Amsterdam–JFK route with these aircraft, this flight was a charter for the national team.

New Zealand

The New Zealand national team arrived in San Diego, its base during the competition, on June 6th from Tampa on a Southwest charter flight. The team had previously played a series of friendly matches in Florida, having arrived in the country in late May.

Norway

On June 2nd at 20:49 local time, Icelandair’s Boeing 757-256, registration TF-FIA, landed in Greensboro after flying from Oslo via Bangor, with the U.S. city serving as a technical stopover. The aircraft was chartered by the Norwegian national team, though it was not the only one.

Panama

On board the Copa Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 registration HP-9819CMP featuring a special National Team livery, the Panamanian team departed from Tocumen International Airport on June 4th at 15:51 local time, bound for St. Louis, where they will be based throughout the World Cup. The aircraft arrived at 20:03 local time after a flight of 4 hours and 32 minutes.

Paraguay

The Paraguayan national team touched down in the United States from Asunción on a Gridiron Air Boeing 777-232(ER), formerly owned by Delta Air Lines. It took off from Silvio Pettirossi Airport in the Paraguayan capital in the early hours of Sunday, June 7th, landing at San Jose International Airport that same morning following a 12-hour flight.

Portugal

One of the last national teams to arrive in the United States for the World Cup. The Portuguese national team departed Lisbon on June 12th at 15:13 local time, bound for West Palm Beach. At the time of publication, they are aboard TAP Air Portugal’s Airbus A330-941, registration number CS-TUM, marking the airline’s first visit to the airport in Florida.

Qatar

After spending 10 days in Ireland, the Qatari national team took off for the United States aboard Qatar Airways‘ Boeing 777-3DZ(ER), registration number A7-BEH, featuring a special World Cup livery, as Qatar Airways is the official airline of FIFA. They landed in Los Angeles on May 30th at 14:25 local time from Dublin, marking the first-ever flight operated by Qatar Airways between the Irish capital and LA.

Saudi Arabia

On June 2nd, the Saudi Arabian national team landed in Austin on a jetBlue charter flight from White Plains, as the team had arrived in New York in late May, where they played some friendly matches ahead of the World Cup.

Prior to its flight between White Plains and Austin, the Airbus A220-300 with registration number N3139J operated a repositioning flight from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport, which lasted 15 minutes.

Scotland

Scotland’s first World Cup of the century began on May 31st, with the team departing from Glasgow heading to Fort Lauderdale via Bangor. Fun fact: they traveled on the same plane as the Norwegian national team two days later.

Between May 30th and June 2nd, Icelandair’s Boeing 757-256, registered TF-FIA, operated the following flights: Reykjavik – Glasgow – Bangor – Fort Lauderdale – Reykjavik – Oslo – Bangor – Greensboro – Reykjavik.

South Africa

On June 1st, an Omni Air International Boeing 767-200(ER) took off from OR Tambo International Airport bound for Mexico with the South African national team on board. Bafana Bafana landed at Felipe Angeles International Airport on the morning of June 2nd after making a stopover in Espargos.

South Korea

After training for nearly three weeks in Salt Lake City, the South Korean team departed for Guadalajara, their base during the World Cup. They traveled on Aeromexico’s scheduled flight AM793 from Salt Lake City to Guadalajara, landing in Mexico on June 5th.

Spain

The Spanish national team arrived in Nashville on June 5th at 13:10 local time from Santiago de Compostela aboard an Airbus A350-941 with registration number EC-MYX, which was given a special World Cup sticker. This was Iberia’s first flight between Santiago de Compostela and the United States, and the first time an A350 had visited the Spanish airport.

Sweden

Having transported the Scottish and Norwegian national teams to the United States, the Icelandair Boeing 757 with registration TF-FIA was chartered by the Swedish national team for its trip to the World Cup. They departed from Stockholm on June 6th at 12:16 local time bound for Dallas, where they arrived the same day at 16:45 local time after a technical stopover in Reykjavik.

Uruguay

The Uruguayan national team took off from Carrasco Airport in Montevideo aboard a Gridiron Air Boeing 777-232(ER) en route to Cancún, their base for the World Cup. As with other national teams’ charter flights, the Uruguayan national team’s flight held the top spot worldwide on Flightradar24 for several minutes.

Uzbekistan

On May 30th at 11:34 local time, the Uzbekistan national team departed from Tashkent aboard a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operated by the national carrier, bearing a special World Cup sticker, bound for New York, where they landed at 14:24 local time.

Beyond being a flight with the national team on board, the squad traveled on a regular Uzbekistan Airways flight between Tashkent and JFK International Airport (flight HY101).

Clarification regarding participating countries that do not appear on the list: their charter flight to the World Cup has not been officially reported, or they had not yet departed at the time of publication.

Cover photo: © Santi.Spotter – JetPhotos (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

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