Breaking News: Jibril Rajoub Awaits U.S. Visa in Mexico
Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association, is currently in Mexico City awaiting a visa to enter the United States for the FIFA World Cup 2026. He attended the opening match between Mexico and South Africa but is now among several accredited individuals who have not received U.S. visas.
Rajoub expressed concern about the denial of entry to football officials, stating it is unfair to restrict their participation. Despite the Palestinian team not qualifying for the tournament, FIFA invites heads of football associations to promote global unity.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino affirmed that all will be welcome in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico for the event. However, the U.S. has denied entry to delegates from several countries, including a Somali referee and an Iraqi photographer.
Infantino mentioned that FIFA is working to resolve these visa issues but cannot override U.S. government decisions. The U.S. Department of State has not commented on Rajoub’s situation. Last year, new restrictions were placed on Palestinian passport holders, affecting travel for officials like Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
