Soccer fans flying United Airlines this summer may soon catch more than just their flight. The carrier is rolling out live streaming of FIFA World Cup matches on select aircraft equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
United announced this week that as many as 150 Starlink-enabled planes will offer live TV channels through a partnership with DirecTV, with the service continuing through July 20. The airline already has 400 Starlink-equipped aircraft and expects to reach 1,000 by year’s end. The Wi-Fi is free for MileagePlus members, who will be notified of availability before their flight.
“This technology has the potential to transform how we think about the inflight experience for both our customers and our employees,” David Kinzelman, United’s chief customer officer, said in a statement. The service debuted on United’s fleet in March 2025 and relies on more than 10,000 active Starlink satellites in low Earth orbit.
The move positions United at the forefront of inflight connectivity, a space where airlines have long struggled to offer reliable, high-speed internet. Rivals have also invested in satellite-based Wi-Fi, but United’s aggressive rollout—and its tie-in with a global event like the World Cup—could set a new benchmark for passenger expectations.
While early reviews praise the speed, the service’s capacity to handle thousands of simultaneous streams during peak travel remains unproven. Critics also note that Starlink’s satellite constellation has faced environmental and regulatory scrutiny, which could pose longer-term operational risks.