He asks Trump for help! Spain World Cup winner barred from entry | OneFootball

One of the biggest matches in Spain’s football history awaits them. It is only the second time that ‘La Roja’ have reached the final of a FIFA World Cup. The last time was in 2010, when they beat the Netherlands and were ultimately able to lift the trophy. 

Now the 2026 final in New York is coming up, and of course Spain’s world champions from back then do not want to miss it. One of them is Joan Capdevila. The left-back was a regular starter under Vicente del Bosque at the time and played every minute of every World Cup match. 

And he had actually planned to attend this year’s final as well, but he is not allowed to enter the country. “I’ve just been informed that I can’t travel to the World Cup final with my children because my ESTA application was denied,” he wrote on ‘X’, addressing Trump directly: “I need help.” 

ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is an electronic travel authorization for many Europeans, allowing them to travel to the USA without a visa. In an interview with ‘El Partidazo de Cope’, the Spaniard explained why his application had been denied: “I was refused because ten years ago, in 2016, I was in Iran for a match. And apparently that’s how it is: if you’ve been to Iran, you can’t enter the USA unless you have a different visa or something similar.” 

With his post on ‘X’, he is now hoping that someone can help him. “You can’t imagine how much I was looking forward to being there together with all my 2010 teammates and this team to cheer them on. I can’t believe I’m not being allowed into the USA and that I’m going to miss a moment like this with my children, considering how much we love football,” wrote the former defensive specialist, who retired in 2017. 

Time is running out, with not much left until Sunday evening’s final (9 p.m. German time). Capdevila hopes a solution can still be found. “If anyone knows how this can be solved, I will thank them from the bottom of my heart for the rest of my life,” he concluded. 

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 JAVIER SORIANO - 2010 AFP