Palestine FA president denied U.S. visa for 2026 World Cup
Palestinian football chief stranded in Mexico City after visa rejection for World Cup meeting.
The head of the Palestinian Football Association (PFA), Jibril Rajoub, has been denied a visa to enter the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, leaving him stranded in Mexico City.
Rajoub was scheduled to attend a meeting of football federation presidents in the U.S. related to the World Cup, but U.S. authorities did not grant him entry, according to the PFA.
The PFA confirmed that Rajoub is currently waiting in Mexico City for permission to travel, though no further details on the reason for the denial have been provided.
Background
The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Rajoub's absence raises tensions given past disputes between Palestinian football bodies and FIFA over political issues.
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