Palestinian Football Chief Says U.S. Has Not Granted Him a World Cup Visa

Palestinian Football Association chairman Jibril Rajoub said on Friday that he still has not received a U.S. entry visa for the 2026 World Cup, despite saying he had already obtained formal FIFA approval to attend the event. The report was published on June 12, 2026, as the tournament nears in the United States, one of the host countries.

In an interview with Anadolu, Rajoub argued that visas for World Cup participants are a right, not a favor. He said FIFA rules require host countries to comply, and added that the tournament is global, not something belonging to the United States alone.

"Not issuing the visa reflects disrespect toward FIFA and toward the message of sport, which is supposed to unite peoples," Rajoub said. He also claimed he is not the only sports official facing the problem, saying other senior figures from different countries are encountering the same issue. The article did not say whether FIFA or U.S. authorities had responded, or when a decision might be made.