politics
Former Spain Player Denied U.S. Entry After 2016 Iran Match Appeals to Trump
Joan Capdevila posted on X seeking assistance from President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio after his ESTA was denied. He attributed the denial to a 2016 match played in Iran. Spain faces Argentina in the final on July 19.
Jul 17, 10:23 PM·1m read1 source
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Former Spain defender Joan Capdevila publicly requested assistance from President Donald Trump after his ESTA was denied for travel to the United States, Usa Today reported. Capdevila posted on X that he could not travel to the final with his children. "I NEED HELP @realDonaldTrump," the post began.
He added that he could not believe authorities would not let him enter the U.S. and expressed disappointment at missing the chance to join 2010 teammates. Capdevila tagged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a separate post asking for help.
In an interview with Spanish radio station COPE, he said the denial stemmed from a match he played in Iran 10 years ago. In 2016 a team of La Liga legends that included Capdevila faced an all-star side from Iran in Tehran. Capdevila, 48, played the full match for Spain in its 1-0 victory over the Netherlands after extra time in the 2010 World Cup final.
Spain will face Argentina in the final on Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Usa Today has reached out to the White House and State Department for comment.
