Head of Palestinian soccer group says he wasnt granted US visa to attend World Cup

RAMALLAH, West Bank — The head of the Palestinian Football Association is waiting in Mexico City for permission to enter the United States with other federation heads attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Jibril Rajoub went to the opening match between Mexico and South Africa on Thursday.But he is among several people accredited to attend the World Cup who have been denied visas or have yet to receive them from the United States.“I don’t believe that it’s fair to use or to abuse and deny the right of all footballers all over the world to attend,” the veteran Palestinian political figure said in an interview with The Associated Press.The Palestinian team did not qualify for the World Cup, but FIFA typically invites the heads of football associations from around the world to the event every four years, which it frames as a celebration of global unity.“Everyone will be welcome in Canada, Mexico and the United States for the FIFA World Cup next year.

We are working exactly for that,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said last year.The United States, however, has refused entry to delegates from a raft of countries, including a referee from Somalia and a photographer traveling with Iraq’s team.Infantino said this week that FIFA had been trying to resolve visa issues but could not overrule the U.S.government.“We need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces,” he told reporters on Wednesday.The U.S.

State Department had no immediate comment on Rajoub’s visa, but last year implemented new restrictions on Palestinian passport holders, including on anyone who had been employed by the Palestinian Authority.It revoked a visa to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to travel to the United Nations General Assembly last September.More coverage on the 2026 FIFA World CupRajoub and other Palestinian soccer officials have long argued that Israel violates statutes by allowing teams from settlements...