Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year]
Former Spain defender Joan Capdevila has asked U.S. President Donald Trump for help getting into the United States to watch Spain face Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup final, after being denied authorization to travel a decade after playing in an exhibition game in Iran
In 2010, Capdevila helped Spain win its only men’s World Cup title, starting in the final against the Netherlands, and he was a member of the team that won the 2008 European Championship
But he is worried he will miss Sunday’s final and addressed Trump in a post on X, saying his application for visa-free entrySTA ) was denied. Visitors from select countries who want to enter the U.S. without a visa apply
““I NEED HELP @realDonaldTrump!” Capdevila posted on X on Friday night, adding that his ESTA application was denied
Capdevila also sent a separate message to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and tagged the Spanish government’s ministry of sport in his post
The 48-year-old Capdevila wrote that he wants to be at the game in New Jersey “with all my 2010 teammates” to cheer on the current Spain squad
Ten years ago, Capdevila was part of a Spanish La Liga legends exhibition team that faced a team of all-stars from Iran in Tehran
The World Cup final will be played on turf with mixed reviews. Rain might help
4 MIN READ
International visitors came to the United States for soccer. Some saw beyond the clichés, too
5 MIN READ
Lionel Messi speaks in advance of World Cup final, says Argentina ‘will give it our all’
3 MIN READ
The U.S. State Department allows travelers from “visa waiver” countries to enter with an ESTA. <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>The program’s rules specify instances in which travelers are not eligible for ESTA — one of which being if they’ve traveled to Iran after March 1, 2011 — and if so they “must obtain a visa prior to traveling to the United States.”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which runs the visa waiver program and ESTA, has been asked for comment. ___
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
