The US And Canada Have Denied The Head Of Palestine Football Association's Visa For The World Cup

The president of the Palestinian Football Association Jibril Rajoub said the US and Canada have denied him a visa to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite being accredited for the tournament.

Palestine did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup, which is jointly being held between the US, Canada and Mexico, but FIFA typically invites the heads of football associations from around the world to attend the tournament, which it frames as a celebration of global unity.

Since taking office in January 2025, the Trump administration has imposed sweeping restrictions on Palestinian passport holders, including people who had been employed by the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the occupied West Bank.

In September 2025, It revoked a visa for Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas to attend the UN General Assembly

Rajoub, who also heads the Palestine Olympic Committee, attended the opening match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City on Thursday, June 11, but said he was unable to travel to the US with other football federation heads because he had not been granted a visa, according to AP.

“I don’t believe that it’s fair to use or to abuse and deny the right of all footballers all over the world to attend,” Rajoub told AP.

Rajoub also said that he had not been able to obtain a visa for Canada either.

The US has not publicly commented on Rajoub’s case.

The US has been under scrutiny for denying visas to several accredited officials and even players.

The US denied a visa to Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was set to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a men’s World Cup, but was barred from entering the US as well as at least 15 Iranian officials and team staff.

The Iranian team is allowed to play games in the US, but has to leave the country immediately after each match.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the organization had been trying to resolve visa issues but could not overrule governments.

“We need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces,” Infantino told reporters.

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