Key facts
- Joan Capdevila, a 2010 World Cup winner for Spain, was denied entry to the U.S.
- His ESTA application was rejected, preventing him from attending the World Cup final.
- The denial is reportedly linked to his participation in a 2016 exhibition match in Iran.
- Capdevila publicly appealed to President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for help.
- He expressed disappointment at missing the event with his children.
Joan Capdevila, a celebrated former defender for the Spanish national team and a member of their 2010 World Cup-winning squad, has been denied permission to enter the United States to attend the upcoming World Cup final. The 48-year-old player revealed on social media that his Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application was rejected, preventing him from traveling with his children to support the team.
Capdevila stated that the reason for the denial was his participation in an exhibition match featuring LaLiga stars in Iran in 2016. Expressing his disbelief and disappointment, he directly appealed to President Donald Trump for assistance, tagging him in his post. He also tagged Spain's sports ministry and sought help from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Capdevila conveyed his excitement about attending the final with his teammates and children, emphasizing his dismay at missing such a significant event. Reuters has reached out to the U.S. State Department for comment on the matter.