Visa Issues for Palestinian Football Officials Amid World Cup Preparations
In Mexico City, the president of the Palestinian Football Association is awaiting visa approval to enter the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, along with several other federation leaders.
Djibril Rajoub participated in the opening match between Mexico and South Africa on Thursday. However, he finds himself among those granted access to the World Cup yet facing difficulties securing a US visa.
In a conversation with The Associated Press, Rajoub expressed his concerns: “I don’t think it’s fair to take advantage of, abuse, or deny every soccer player in the world the right to participate.” His frustration reflects a broader issue affecting many international soccer figures.
While the Palestinian team did not qualify for the World Cup, FIFA generally invites head officials from soccer associations globally to join in the festivities every four years, often viewed as a symbol of international unity.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino previously affirmed that “everyone will be welcome” at next year’s tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, although the reality seems more complex.
The US has denied entry to various delegations, including a referee from Somalia and a photographer who was part of the Iraqi team. Infantino shared this week that FIFA had been seeking solutions regarding visa issues but noted the limitations imposed by the US government.
“We need to respect that we are not kings of the world who can rule the government and the police,” he remarked during a press conference.
While the U.S. State Department did not comment specifically on Rajoub’s situation, it has enforced new restrictions for Palestinian passport holders, including employees of the Palestinian Authority. Notably, last year, it revoked the visa for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, which allowed him to attend the UN General Assembly.
Rajoub and his fellow Palestinian soccer officials have contended that Israel breaches laws by permitting teams from occupied West Bank settlements to compete in Israel’s domestic league. They are advocating for FIFA to impose sanctions on Israel and have criticized limitations on Palestinian player movement, particularly in light of the war in Gaza, which has devastated approximately 80% of sports facilities and resulted in the deaths of at least 565 players.
Rajoub also declined to shake hands with the head of the Israeli Football Federation, acting on Infantino’s directive, stating that it would not address existing grievances but merely serve to obscure Israel’s actions.
He highlighted that during Russia’s hosting of the 2018 World Cup, there were no similar visa restrictions for attendees, underlining the disparities in treatment.
