Joan Capdevila, a World Cup winner from Spain, has contacted Trump after being denied entry to the US for the final
Spain legend Joan Capdevila sought assistance from Donald Trump when a denied US travel permit jeopardized his trip to the World Cup final.
Former Spain international Joan Capdevila has made a direct appeal to US President Donald Trump, sharing that he was denied entry into the United States before the World Cup final on Sunday.
The 48-year-old, a member of Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning squad, had intended to gather with his former teammates and watch La Roja compete against Argentina at MetLife Stadium alongside his children.
Capdevila stated that his application for the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), necessary for visa-free travel of up to 90 days, was denied.
“I require assistance @realDonaldTrump!” he posted on X. “I was just informed that I can’t travel to the final with my kids because my ESTA has been denied.”
He expressed that not being able to share the occasion with his children and former teammates was truly heartbreaking, stating he would be “grateful for life” to anyone who could assist in resolving the issue. Capdevila also included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Spain’s Ministry of Sport in his appeal.
In an interview with Spanish radio station COPE, Capdevila implied that the denial could be associated with his involvement in a 2016 exhibition match in Tehran, where a team of La Liga legends faced off against an Iranian all-star team.
Capdevila is the most recent prominent individual to encounter entry challenges into the US during the tournament. Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry prior to the competition, as US officials raised concerns regarding his purported connections to individuals suspected of involvement with terrorist organizations.
Spain advanced to their second World Cup final by overcoming France with a score of 2-0, while the defending champions, Argentina, secured their spot with a thrilling 2-1 comeback win against England.
