Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning defender Joan Capdevila says he cannot attend the United States-bound trip to watch Spain play Argentina in the World Cup final because he has been denied entry. Multiple outlets report that Capdevila’s U.S. authorization for travel is rejected shortly before the final, leaving his participation in the match-day trip uncertain. The BBC and Yahoo Sports say Capdevila appeals directly to U.S. President Donald Trump for help following the denial.
Several reports also include background on why he faced restrictions. The Independent states that Capdevila was denied authorization due to a prior travel issue linked to an exhibition game in Iran about a decade ago. Times of India similarly says Capdevila’s ESTA application is rejected, making him unable to travel as planned. Coverage across the outlets consistently describes Capdevila as a former Spain international and notes his key achievements, including Spain’s 2010 World Cup triumph. The reports do not detail the final outcome of his appeal or any official response from U.S. authorities.
