RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) – The president of the Palestinian Football Association is waiting in Mexico City for permission to enter the United States, along with other federation presidents. 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Djibril Rajoub played in Thursday’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa. However, he is among several people who have been allowed to participate in the World Cup but have either been denied a visa or have not yet received a visa from the United States.
“I don’t think it’s fair to take advantage of, abuse or deny every soccer player in the world the right to participate,” the veteran Palestinian politician said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Although the Palestinian team failed to qualify for the World Cup, FIFA typically invites the heads of soccer associations around the world to attend the event every four years, marking it as a celebration of global unity.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said last year: “Everyone will be welcome in Canada, Mexico and the United States at next year’s FIFA World Cup. We are working to do exactly that.”
However, the United States refuses entry to representatives from a number of countries, including: Referee from Somalia and a photographer traveling with a team in Iraq.
Infantino said this week that FIFA had been trying to resolve the visa issue but had been unable to overrule the US government.
“We need to respect that we are not kings of the world who can rule the government and the police,” he told reporters Wednesday.
The U.S. State Department had no immediate comment on Rajoub’s visa, but last year Implemented new limits Targets Palestinian passport holders, including those employed by the Palestinian Authority.
that visa canceled Last September, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was allowed to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
Rajoub Palestinian soccer officials have long argued that Israel violates the law by allowing teams from occupied West Bank settlements to play in Israel’s domestic league. they have asked FIFA to impose sanctions on Israelhas also criticized restrictions on the movement of Palestinian athletes. How did the war in Gaza turn out? The association said 80% of sports facilities were damaged or destroyed and at least 565 athletes died there.
Last month, Rajoub refused to shake hands Infantino ordered a meeting with the president of the Israel Football Federation because he said the move did not heal the wound, but rather whitewashed Israel’s actions.
Rajoub pointed out that when Russia hosted the 2018 World Cup, it did not have comparable visa restrictions in place for people invited to the tournament.
__ Matthew Lee contributed reporting from Washington.
