Palestine FA chief says US and Canada denied him visas for the World Cup
Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Federation, was unable to join World Cup matches in the United States and Canada after both countries refused him a visa, he told AFP on Friday.
Jibril Rajoub, the president of the Palestinian Football Federation, attended the World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico on Thursday. On Friday he told Agence France-Presse that he had not been granted visas to enter the United States or Canada, effectively preventing him from attending any matches scheduled in those two countries.
The 2026 World Cup is being staged across three host nations for the first time: Mexico, the United States and Canada. Rajoub's access to the Mexican leg of the tournament was unaffected, but the denial leaves him unable to travel to American or Canadian stadiums.
It is unclear whether FIFA has been asked to intervene, and the reasons for the visa refusal have not been stated. The tournament continues until July 19, with a number of high-profile fixtures planned for US and Canadian venues.
- Jibril Rajoub attends World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico.
- Rajoub tells AFP he was denied visas for the US and Canada.
