Palestinian football chief says US denied him visa to attend World Cup | World Cup 2026
The president of the Palestinian Football Federation said that he cannot travel to the USA with the presidents of other federations participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup because he was not given a visa.
Jibril Rajoub went to the opening match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City on Thursday. But he is among many people who have permission to participate in the World Cup but have been denied visas or have not yet been able to obtain a visa from the United States.
“I do not believe it is fair to use, abuse and deny the right of participation to all football players around the world,” the senior Palestinian political figure said in an interview with the Associated Press.
Although the Palestinian team did not qualify for the World Cup, FIFA usually invites presidents of football associations from around the world every four years to the event, which it frames as a celebration of global unity.
“Everyone will be welcome in Canada, Mexico and the USA for next year’s FIFA World Cup. That’s exactly what we’re working for,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said last year.
However, the United States denied entry to delegates from several countries, including a referee from Somalia and a photographer traveling with the Iraqi team.
Infantino said this week that FIFA was trying to resolve the visa issues but could not overrule the US government.
“We need to respect that we are not kings of the world who can run governments and police forces,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
The US State Department has not yet commented on Rajoub’s visa, but last year new restrictions were imposed on Palestinian passport holders, including those employed by the Palestinian Authority.
It canceled the visa that allowed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to travel to the United Nations general assembly last September.
Rajoub and other Palestinian football officials have long argued that Israel is violating the law by allowing teams from settlements in the occupied West Bank to play in the Israeli national league. According to the association, they forced FIFA to impose sanctions on Israel, while also denouncing restrictions on the movement of Palestinian players and how the war in the Gaza Strip has damaged or destroyed 80% of sports facilities and killed at least 565 players there.
Last month, Rajoub refused to shake hands with the president of the Israeli football federation on Infantino’s orders because he said the gesture would not heal wounds but would instead whitewash Israel’s actions.
Rajoub pointed out that when Russia hosted the 2018 World Cup, it did not impose similar visa restrictions on people invited to the tournament.
