Palestinian Football Association president Jibril Rajoub says the United States has not granted him a visa to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup, even though FIFA typically invites heads of national federations and he holds official FIFA accreditation. Multiple outlets report that Rajoub has been stranded in Mexico City after attending the World Cup’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa. He is seeking entry to the United States to travel with other football federation delegates attending the tournament.
The reports describe Rajoub as among a wider group of accredited officials affected by US entry restrictions or visa delays. Rajoub says the denial is unfair and politically motivated, pointing to the 2018 World Cup in Russia as an example where he said he faced no comparable diplomatic obstacles. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has previously said FIFA is working to resolve visa issues but cannot overrule US government decisions.
The articles also note that US visa restrictions have previously affected Palestinian passport holders, including a case involving the Palestinian president’s travel in the context of a UN-related trip.
