Palestinian Football Chief Awaits U.S. Visa Decision While in Mexico City for 2026 World Cup Events

U.S. permission to enter the country for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He attended the opening match between Mexico and South Africa on Thursday while his visa application remains pending.

U.S. visas or have not yet received them. The United States has refused entry to delegates from multiple countries, including a referee from Somalia and a photographer traveling with Iraq’s team.

The Palestinian national team did not qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FIFA invites heads of football associations from around the world to the event every four years. FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated last year that everyone would be welcome in Canada, Mexico and the United States for the tournament.

U.S. government. “We need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces,” Infantino told reporters on Wednesday.

U.S. State Department implemented new restrictions on Palestinian passport holders, including anyone employed by the Palestinian Authority. The department revoked a visa that would have allowed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to travel to the United Nations General Assembly last September.

U.S. State Department had no immediate comment on Rajoub’s visa application. Rajoub said in an interview with The Associated Press that he does not believe it is fair to deny the right of all footballers to attend.

He noted that Russia did not implement comparable visa restrictions when it hosted the 2018 World Cup. The Palestinian Football Association states that war in the Gaza Strip has damaged or destroyed 80 percent of sports facilities and killed at least 565 players. Last month Rajoub refused to shake hands with the head of Israel’s football federation at Infantino’s request.