Joan Capdevila denied ESTA, misses World Cup final

A former World Cup champion has been barred from attending the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being denied authorization to enter the United States, prompting a public plea to the American president. Joan Capdevila, a member of Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning squad, announced on July 17 that his application for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) had been denied, preventing him from traveling to watch Spain face Argentina in the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

In a post on social media platform X, the 48-year-old former defender directly addressed U.S. President Donald Trump, writing that he could not travel to the final with his children. He expressed his devastation at missing the chance to reunite with his former teammates and cheer on the national team, an event he had been invited to attend by the Spanish Football Federation. Capdevila also tagged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Spain's Ministry of Sport in his appeals for assistance.

Speaking to Spanish radio station COPE, Capdevila said he believes the denial stems from his participation in a La Liga legends exhibition match held in Tehran, Iran, in 2016....