Joan Capdevila, a World Cup winner with Spain in 2010, has made a public plea to US President Donald Trump after being denied a travel permit to enter the United States for Sunday's World Cup final—the same match that will see Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez sit in the same VIP area as Trump, one of his most outspoken European critics.
The 48-year-old former full-back, hoping to reunite with his 2010 team-mates and watch Spain face Argentina at the MetLife Stadium, said his Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) had been denied. "I NEED HELP @realDonaldTrump!" he posted on X on Friday. "They just told me that I can't travel to the final with my kids because my ESTA has been denied." Capdevila also appealed to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Spanish government's ministry of sport. He told Spanish radio station COPE he believes the denial is linked to a 2016 exhibition match he played in Iran.
“World Cup winner Capdevila begs Trump for US entry after ESTA denial; Sánchez to face Trump at final.”
Meanwhile, Sánchez's attendance had been in doubt because of a scheduled trip to Algeria the following day, but a government spokesperson confirmed he will depart after the match. Tensions between Madrid and Washington have escalated: Sánchez has sharply criticized Trump's foreign policy, particularly the US-Israeli war in Iran, denying Washington use of joint airbases. He has also refused to raise defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP—a target Trump urged NATO allies to adopt. During July's NATO summit in Ankara, Trump briefly threatened to cut off all trade with Spain, calling the country "a wasted cause." The spokesperson said bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the match were highly unlikely.
Adding to the controversies surrounding the tournament, the Liberal Democrats have urged the Football Association and Uefa to quit Fifa. The party criticised high ticket prices for fans and the decision to overturn a US player's suspension after lobbying from Trump. The call came as Sunday's final—the first World Cup final contested by the European champions and Copa America winners—approaches with off-pitch disputes threatening to overshadow the match.