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US denies entry to Spain's 2010 World Cup hero Capdevila over Iran match
🇪🇸 Spain /Sports

US denies entry to Spain's 2010 World Cup hero Capdevila over Iran match

From El País · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Former Spanish footballer Joan Capdevila was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup final due to a past match played in Iran.
  • Capdevila played in a LaLiga Legends match in Tehran in 2016, a country with restricted U.S. visas since 2015.
  • The denial prevents him from attending the final with his children and joining his 2010 World Cup-winning teammates.

Joan Capdevila, a celebrated member of Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning squad, faces a frustrating obstacle in attending the upcoming final in the United States. He has been denied entry into the U.S. due to a past appearance in a LaLiga Legends match in Iran in 2016.

I was just told I cannot travel to the final with my children because my ESTA has been denied. Can anyone help me with this? You don't know how excited I was to be there with all my 2010 teammates and this team to cheer them on.

— Joan CapdevilaIn a social media post expressing his frustration after being denied entry to the U.S.

Capdevila took to social media to express his dismay, tagging Donald Trump and seeking help. "I was just told I cannot travel to the final with my children because my ESTA has been denied," he wrote, lamenting the missed opportunity to join his 2010 teammates. He explained that the denial stems from his participation in a friendly match in Tehran, noting that Iran has had restricted U.S. visa policies since 2015.

It seems that if you have been to Iran, you cannot enter the United States.

— Joan CapdevilaExplaining the reason for his ESTA denial on El Partidazo de la Cope radio show.

The Spanish Football Federation has reportedly intervened to find a solution with FIFA, but so far without success. Capdevila, who was invited to the match at MetLife Stadium in New York, expressed his disbelief and desperation, stating, "I can't believe they won't let me into the USA... and miss such a moment with my children who love football so much." He appealed for any assistance in resolving the issue.

I can't believe they won't let me into the USA... and miss such a moment with my children who love football so much.

— Joan CapdevilaExpressing his disbelief and disappointment in a social media message.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El País in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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