For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, several airlines around the world operated special flights to Canada, the United States, and Mexico, the host countries of the competition.

We’ve already talked about the flights for each team—at least those publicly known—on the blog, mentioning how each country arrived in North America or at their base there. Some used a commercial flight, as was the case with South Korea, while others flew on charter flights or VIP jets. For more details on these flights, you can click on the following link.

How the World Cup teams traveled to North America

Special liveries

After reviewing the charter flights, it’s now time to take a look at the special liveries that airlines painted on their aircraft for the World Cup. This also includes aircraft that aren’t operated by a country’s national carrier, such as in the case of Brazil, which chartered a VIP aircraft from a South African airline to fly from Rio de Janeiro to the United States.

Aerolíneas Argentinas

The Airbus A330-202, registration LV-KAN, received stickers featuring Lionel Messi’s number 10 on its tail, as well as three stars (representing each World Cup won by Argentina) on its fuselage and a captain’s armband on both engines, while parked in one of Aerolíneas Argentinas’ hangars in Buenos Aires.

Air Algérie

Algeria’s flag carrier added a new Airbus A330-941 to its fleet, registered as 7T-VLB, in late May. It departed from Lourdes Tarbes bound for Algiers on June 1st, already bearing its special World Cup livery, “One Two Three Viva l’Algérie.”

American Airlines

The airline, in partnership with Qatar Airways, unveiled a special World Cup-themed livery on one of its Boeing 737-800s, specifically the aircraft registered as N844NN. It was presented in Miami in early April and entered service on April 4th on flight AA1728 between Miami and Bridgetown.

Avianca

As we mentioned in the flight report, Avianca’s Airbus A320-251N, registration N906AV, transported the Colombian national team from Bogotá to San Diego. The aircraft was decorated with a special team livery, including the national team’s emblem on the tail.

However, for the opening match, the Colombian national team traveled from San Diego to Guadalajara on a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operated by the same airline.

Copa Airlines

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 with registration number HP-9819CMP, which joined the Copa Airlines fleet last May, was painted with a special livery of the Panamanian national football team. This livery was chosen through an internal competition within employees of the airline, with the winning design featuring an all-red scheme, the national team’s crest on the tail, and other details.

Divi Divi Air

Divi Divi Air (3R/DVR) is a Caribbean regional airline based in Curaçao, operating the Willemstad–Oranjestad and Willemstad–Bonaire routes with Twin Otter and Britten-Norman Islander aircraft.

On its Twin Otter with registration number PJ-DVD, the airline painted a special livery for the Curaçao national team, including the phrase “Curacao on our backs. The world in our sight. Small Island. Massive Impact. World Cup 2026.”

Iberia

In mid-May, Iberia’s Airbus A350-941, registration EC-MYX, featured a special livery celebrating the Spanish national football team, as the airline is an official sponsor. The aircraft is sporting stickers of the national team along with the Spanish phrase “Despega un equipo, vuela un país” (A team takes off, a country flies).

Qatar Airways

The official airline of the World Cup unveiled a new special livery for the 2026 tournament, painted on the Boeing 777-3DZ(ER) with registration number A7-BEH. The aircraft received this livery in Shannon in early May and returned to Ireland 10 days later to transport the Qatar national team to the United States.

Royal Air Maroc

Royal Air Maroc’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registration number CN-RGY, carried the Moroccan national team to the United States for the World Cup on flight AT4320 from Rabat to Newark. A few days before the trip, the aircraft was adorned with special stickers, including the phrase “Go Lions 2026.”

TAP Air Portugal

It’s not a special livery, but they did include some stickers.

The Portuguese airline, which flew the national team to the United States, decorated the Airbus A330-941 registry CS-TUM with stickers featuring the team’s emblem and the phrase “It’s Portugal time.” Before their departure from Lisbon, all the players took a photo with the plane in the background, as shared by Cristiano Ronaldo on social media.

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