Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association, says he has not been granted a US visa to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Though the Palestinian national team does not qualify for the tournament, Rajoub holds FIFA accreditation and planned to travel to the United States as part of a group of federation heads and football delegates invited to attend matches. Multiple outlets report that Rajoub is currently in Mexico City after attending the World Cup’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa. He says the visa denial is unfair and politically motivated, and contrasts it with the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where he attended without comparable diplomatic or travel obstacles.
Other reporting highlights that FIFA generally invites federation leaders to World Cups and that FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said the organisation cannot override US government immigration decisions. Accounts also note that the United States has imposed or applied visa restrictions affecting other accredited individuals, with the US State Department not providing immediate comment in some coverage. Rajoub remains in a visa limbo as he seeks permission to enter the United States for the tournament.
