Palestinian Football Federation President Denied Entry to U.S. for 2026 World Cup

Reports emerging today reveal that Jibril Rajoub, the President of the Palestinian Football Federation, has yet to gain entry into the United States for the 2026 World Cup, despite attending some events related to the tournament hosted by participating countries.

According to the Associated Press, Rajoub was present at the opening match held in Mexico between South Africa and Mexico but has encountered difficulties in securing permission to enter the U.S. for subsequent matches.

Rajoub stated that he is still awaiting the necessary approval to enter American territory and expressed his surprise at the restrictions placed on certain individuals associated with global football.

Rajoub: It Is Unfair to Misuse This Right

The Palestinian federation president remarked, “I do not believe it is fair to use or misuse the right of all football players worldwide to attend and deny them this opportunity,” pointing out that Russia’s hosting of the 2018 World Cup did not impose similar restrictions on invitees.

Although Palestine did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup finals, FIFA typically extends official invitations to national federation presidents to attend as it is a global event uniting football families from around the world.

Infantino Raises Concerns

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that host countries welcome all participants in the tournament but clarified that FIFA does not have authority over government decisions regarding visa issuance or security protocols.

Infantino stated, “We must respect the fact that we are not world kings who can impose our decisions on governments or security agencies.”.

The Associated Press noted that visa issues are not limited to Jibril Rajoub; several accredited individuals connected to the tournament have faced similar challenges, including Somali referee Omar Artan and a photographer accompanying the Iraqi team.

The agency also reported that some fans of the Ivory Coast national team encountered difficulties entering the U.S. due to stringent security measures enforced by American authorities on sports delegations and fans attending the 2026 World Cup.