Jibril Rajoub is in Mexico awaiting a US visa to attend the World Cup 2026.
Printed On 12 Jun 2026
The pinnacle of the Palestinian Soccer Affiliation says he’s ready in Mexico Metropolis for permission to enter the USA to attend the FIFA World Cup with different federation heads.
Jibril Rajoub attended the opening match between Mexico and South Africa on Thursday, however he has now joined a number of individuals accredited to attend the World Cup who’ve been denied visas or have but to obtain them from the US.
Really helpful Tales
checklist of two gadgetsfinish of checklist
“I don’t imagine that it’s honest to make use of or to abuse and deny the best of all footballers all around the world to attend,” the veteran Palestinian political determine informed The Related Press information company.
The Palestinian group didn’t qualify for the World Cup, however FIFA sometimes invitations the heads of soccer associations from world wide to the occasion each 4 years, which it frames as a celebration of worldwide unity.
“Everybody will likely be welcome in Canada, Mexico and the USA for the FIFA World Cup subsequent yr. We’re working precisely for that,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino mentioned final yr.
The US, nonetheless, has refused entry to delegates from a number of international locations, together with a referee from Somalia and a photographer travelling with Iraq’s group.
Infantino mentioned this week that FIFA had been attempting to resolve visa points however couldn’t overrule the US authorities.
“We have to respect that we’re not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces,” he informed reporters on Wednesday.
The US Division of State had no speedy touch upon Rajoub’s visa, however final yr applied new restrictions on Palestinian passport holders, together with on anybody who had been employed by the Palestinian Authority.
It revoked a visa to permit Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to journey to the United Nations Normal Meeting final September.
Rajoub and different Palestinian soccer officers have lengthy argued that Israel violates statutes by permitting groups from settlements within the occupied West Financial institution to play in Israel’s nationwide league.
They’ve pushed FIFA to sanction Israel, highlighting restrictions on the motion of Palestinian gamers and the way Israel’s genocidal warfare on Gaza has broken or destroyed 80 p.c of sports activities services and killed a minimum of 565 gamers there, in response to the affiliation.
Final month, Rajoub refused to shake fingers with the top of Israel’s soccer federation at Infantino’s behest as a result of he mentioned the gesture wouldn’t heal wounds however as a substitute whitewash Israel’s actions.
Rajoub identified that when Russia hosted the 2018 World Cup, it didn’t implement comparable visa restrictions for individuals who had been invited to the event.
