Palestinian FA Head Faces US Visa Delays for 2026 World Cup

Jibril Rajoub, who leads the Palestinian Football Association, is facing delays in securing a visa to enter the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Currently in Mexico City, where he attended the opening match between Mexico and South Africa, Rajoub is among several accredited officials experiencing hurdles with US entry permissions for the global tournament.

The veteran Palestinian political figure expressed his concern, stating that denying access to football officials undermines the spirit of the sport. While the Palestinian national team did not qualify for the 48-team event, FIFA traditionally extends invitations to the heads of football associations worldwide, viewing the World Cup as a unifying international celebration.

Despite FIFA President Gianni Infantino's previous assurances that all would be welcome across the host nations of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, reports indicate that the US has withheld visas from various delegates. This includes a referee from Somalia and a photographer traveling with Iraq's team. Infantino recently acknowledged that while FIFA has attempted to mediate these issues, the organization cannot override decisions made by the US government.