Liberia cancels US football friendly after visa denials

Liberia's national football team has been forced to cancel an upcoming friendly match against Major League Soccer's Minnesota United due to U.S. visa denials. The Liberian Ministry of Sports announced the cancellation on Wednesday, stating that visa applications for several team members and the official delegation were rejected.

According to the ministry's statement on Facebook, the visa denials made it impossible for Liberia to field the necessary delegation and meet the contractual obligations for the match, which was scheduled for July 26. The cancellation comes amid heightened scrutiny of U.S. visa policies.

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members of the Liberian national team and the official delegation were denied United States visas, making it impossible to field the required delegation and fulfill the contractual obligations within the agreed timeframe.

Minnesota United confirmed the match's cancellation without providing a specific reason. The club expressed disappointment, stating, "While we were looking forward to welcoming the Liberia National Team and celebrating the strong ties between Minnesota’s Liberian community and our club, circumstances outside of our control have made it necessary to cancel the match."

The situation highlights potential challenges for international teams seeking to travel to the United States, particularly in the context of restrictive visa policies. This cancellation follows a World Cup period where numerous supporters reportedly faced difficulties gaining entry into the United States.

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While we were looking forward to welcoming the Liberia National Team and celebrating the strong ties between Minnesota’s Liberian community and our club, circumstances outside of our control have made it necessary to cancel the match.