ZURICH (AP) — Swiss forward Briel embolo His flight to the United States for the World Cup on Tuesday was delayed because his travel documents were being reviewed.
“Unfortunately, Bril Embolo is currently unable to travel to the United States with his team,” the Swiss Football Federation said in a statement, adding that his ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) was no longer approved.
The Swiss was scheduled to fly from Zurich to Los Angeles around noon local time on Tuesday before heading to a World Cup training camp in San Diego.
This will be the third World Cup in which Embolo, who has scored 24 goals in 86 international games, will be Switzerland’s first-choice striker.
“However, at 10:30 a.m., he was informed that his ESTA application was subject to further review,” the Swiss federation said, without elaborating.
It is unclear why the United States is concerned about Embolo, 29, who has had problems with German and Swiss authorities in the past over the coronavirus pandemic.
He was disciplined by his then club Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2021 for partying with friends during lockdown. In 2024, he was implicated in a criminal case for purchasing fake inspection certificates in 2021 in Basel.
But Embolo traveled to the United States with the Swiss national team a year ago for a friendly between World Cup co-hosts Mexico and the United States, and in that brief trip Switzerland defeated Mexico 4-2 in Salt Lake City. Beat USA 4-0 In Nashville.
The Swiss federation said on Tuesday: “We are in contact with the relevant authorities and expect Briel to either join the team later today (Tuesday) or travel tomorrow and join the team at that time.”
Switzerland is expected to advance from the World Cup group that includes co-hosts Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar.
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