Capdevila Appeals to Trump After Travel Denial Ahead of World Cup Final

The 48-year-old wants to attend Sunday's championship between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to reunite with his former teammates.

Rudy Blalock

Published: 7/18/2026, 9:58:41 PM EDT

Capdevila Appeals to Trump After Travel Denial Ahead of World Cup Final — Joan Capdevila of RCD Espanyol looks on during the La Liga match between RCD Espanyol and Getafe CF at Cornella-El Prat Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on Sept. 29, 2013. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

A World Cup-winning defender is turning to the White House for help after being locked out of the United States just one day before soccer's biggest match.

Joan Capdevila, who helped Spain capture its only men's World Cup title in 2010, publicly appealed to President Donald Trump on Friday night, asking the president to intervene after his travel authorization request was rejected. The 48-year-old wants to attend Sunday's championship between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to reunite with his former teammates.

Decade-Old Trip Comes Back to Haunt Him

Capdevila started in the 2010 final against the Netherlands and also won the 2008 European Championship with Spain. His current travel troubles appear to trace back to a 2010 exhibition match in Tehran, in which he played for a team of La Liga legends against Iranian all-stars.

Federal guidelines bar travelers who visited Iran after March 1, 2011, from using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA, and instead require them to secure a visa before entering the country, according to the State Department's visa waiver program rules. Because Capdevila's Tehran trip fell before that cutoff date, the exact reason for his denial remains unclear, though he says his ESTA application was rejected.

Public Appeal on Social Media

Frustrated by the setback, Capdevila took to X on Friday night, writing "I NEED HELP @realDonaldTrump!" and revealing that his entry request had been turned down. He also directed a separate message to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and tagged Spain's ministry of sport in the same post. In his message, Capdevila said he hopes to be in the stands "with all my 2010 teammates" to support the current national team.

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ESTA and the broader visa waiver program, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NTD News.

Capdevila's plea comes as Trump has taken a highly visible role in the tournament's closing days. On Friday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino credited Trump for helping make the 2026 World Cup a success during a reception at Trump Tower in Manhattan, where Trump hosted Infantino and several international soccer stars alongside the championship trophy. Trump called the tournament "one of the all-time greatest sporting events in history" and wished Spain and Argentina luck ahead of Sunday's final. Infantino, in turn, told Trump the World Cup's success would not have been possible "without you.”

The tournament—expanded to 48 teams and spread across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico—is on pace to draw a record 6.7 million fans despite early concerns over ticket prices and immigration issues. Only two matches remain: Saturday's third-place game between France and England in Miami Gardens, Florida, and Sunday's final in New Jersey.

The tournament hasn't been free of controversy either. Iran's team complained of travel restrictions before exiting in the group stage, Infantino faced criticism for lifting a red-card suspension on U.S. player Folarin Balogun at Trump's request, and Britain has asked FIFA to investigate Argentina over a banner asserting sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

Whether Trump will respond to Capdevila's appeal remains unclear, but the former defender is hoping his 2010 championship pedigree will help him secure a seat for Sunday's final.

The Associated Press contributed to this report