Nike’s Gulfstream G650 lands in Los Angeles as the World Cup takes center stage

Nike flew from a private airstrip in the UK to Los Angeles on June 15, a 9-hour 17-minute transatlantic hop aboard its Gulfstream G650 (N6453). The jet, owned directly by Nike Inc. and hangared at Hillsboro Airport in Oregon, touched down at LAX just after midnight local time.

The arrival comes the same week the FIFA World Cup is in full swing across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with Los Angeles serving as a host city. Nike, which outfits 12 tournament teams, is leaning heavily into the event: CEO Elliott Hill told Fox Business this week that the company’s turnaround hinges on a renewed focus on sport, and the brand recently unveiled its star-studded “Rip the Script” World Cup commercial, per Boardroom.

The flight from the UK follows a pattern of European movements in recent days — including stops in Italy and the London area — suggesting Nike executives were shuttling between World Cup-related meetings and activations before heading west for matches and marketing events in Los Angeles.