Palestinian Football Chief Denied US, Canada Visas for World Cup 2026 Events

Jibril Rajoub, the president of the Palestinian Football Association (PFA), has stated he was refused entry visas for the United States and Canada, two of the co-hosting nations for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. The PFA chief made the announcement on Friday, June 12, 2026, while confirming his presence in Mexico, the third host nation, where he attended the World Cup's opening ceremony in Mexico City the day prior.

According to Rajoub, his application for a U.S. visa, submitted in Amman, Jordan, was unsuccessful, a decision he described as "ridiculous." He also confirmed that Canada, which will host matches alongside the U.S. and Mexico in June and July 2026, similarly denied his visa request. Despite these setbacks, Rajoub is currently in Mexico, where he is expected to attend a match featuring the Tunisian national team in Monterrey before returning to the Palestinian territories.

Rajoub attributed the visa denials to alleged pressure from Israeli entities, claiming "certain circles do not want us to criticise Israel." He offered no specific evidence to support this assertion. This incident follows a notable moment in April when Rajoub participated in a FIFA Congress in Vancouver but declined an invitation from FIFA President Gianni Infantino to join a group photo that included an official from the Israeli Football Association. The Palestinian Football Association is also currently pursuing an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) concerning FIFA's decision not to sanction Israel over the participation of certain clubs.