Jibril Rajoub is in Mexico awaiting a US visa to attend the World Cup 2026.
Printed On 12 Jun 2026
The top of the Palestinian Soccer Affiliation says he’s ready in Mexico Metropolis for permission to enter america 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 folks accredited to attend the World Cup who’ve been denied visas or have but to obtain them from the US.
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“I don’t consider that it’s truthful to make use of or to abuse and deny the precise of all footballers all around the world to attend,” the veteran Palestinian political determine advised 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 around the globe to the occasion each 4 years, which it frames as a celebration of world unity.
“Everybody will probably be welcome in Canada, Mexico and america 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 making an attempt to resolve visa points however couldn’t overrule the US authorities.
“We have to respect that we aren’t the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces,” he advised reporters on Wednesday.
The US Division of State had no instant touch upon Rajoub’s visa, however final yr carried out 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 Common 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 amenities and killed not less than 565 gamers there, based on the affiliation.
Final month, Rajoub refused to shake arms 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.
