Joan Capdevila, a World Cup winner with Spain in 2010, has made an emotional plea to US President Donald Trump after being denied a travel permit to enter the United States ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final. The 48-year-old former left-back posted on X on Friday: “I NEED HELP @realDonaldTrump! They just told me that I can’t travel to the final with my kids because my ESTA has been denied.”
Capdevila, who was hoping to reunite with his 2010 team-mates and watch Spain face Argentina at the MetLife Stadium in New York, believes the rejection stems from a friendly match he played in Iran in 2016. In an interview with Spanish radio station COPE, he said he was part of a side of La Liga legends that faced an Iranian all-star team in Tehran. He also appealed to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Spanish government’s ministry of sport.
“Former Spain star Joan Capdevila appeals to Donald Trump after being denied entry to the US for the World Cup final.”
The denial is not an isolated incident. Last month, Somali referee Omar Artan was dropped from officiating at the tournament after being refused entry at Miami International Airport on 8 June because of his “association with suspected members of terror organisations”, US officials said. BBC Sport has contacted the White House for comment on Capdevila’s case.
Meanwhile, the World Cup final weekend has been marked by further controversies involving Trump. The US President criticised England manager Thomas Tuchel’s tactics against Argentina, mocking the Three Lions for turning Harry Kane into a defender. “I think they perhaps made a mistake when they made him a defensive player, but what do I know about soccer?” Trump said. Tuchel, asked about the remarks, snapped: “Do you use Donald Trump as your witness for the case, or? I was just asking.” The England boss, who earlier said he would accept the blame for the semi-final defeat, faces France in the third-place play-off on Saturday.
Trump also claimed his phone call to FIFA president Gianni Infantino ensured there was no controversy following Folarin Balogun’s red card. “It’s so much better the way it worked out because there's no controversy,” he said. Infantino, speaking at a reception at Trump Tower in New York, declared the tournament “the greatest human, social and cultural event that mankind has ever witnessed and seen”.
Capdevila, a 2008 European Championship winner and former Villarreal and Deportivo defender, faces the prospect of missing a historic moment – the first World Cup final between European champions Spain and Copa America winners Argentina – with his children. “I can’t believe they’re not letting me into the USA,” he wrote. “If anyone knows how to fix this, I’ll be grateful to you for life.”