Former World Cup Champion Joan Capdevila Appeals to Trump Over US Entry Denial

Joan Capdevila, the 48-year-old former Spanish national team defender and 2010 World Cup winner, publicly appealed to then-US President Donald Trump for help after his ESTA travel authorization was denied. The denial prevents him from traveling to the World Cup final in New Jersey with his children, scheduled for Sunday at MetLife Stadium, where Spain will face Argentina. Capdevila expressed his disappointment on social media platform X, stating he was excited to attend the match with his former teammates from the 2010 squad and support the current team.

He explained in a Spanish radio interview that the ESTA rejection is linked to a match he played in Iran about a decade ago, when a team of former Spanish league stars, including himself, faced an Iranian all-star team in Tehran in 2016. Capdevila tagged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in his plea for assistance. He emphasized how much it would mean to him and his football-loving children to witness Spain's attempt to win a second World Cup title.

Capdevila played the full 120 minutes in the 2010 World Cup final, where Spain defeated the Netherlands 1-0 after extra time to claim their first-ever World Cup. His request for help highlights the challenges some travelers face under US visa waiver program rules, even for prominent sports figures. The outcome of his appeal remains pending as the final approaches.