The 2026 FIFA World Cup is supposed to be the biggest sporting event on the planet. For at least one accredited delegate, it’s become an exercise in watching from the wrong side of the border.
Jibril Rajoub, president of the Palestinian Football Association and a senior figure in the Fatah political party, has been denied a US visa to attend official FIFA events tied to the tournament. He holds full FIFA accreditation, the kind that’s supposed to function as an all-access pass to the global game’s marquee event.
Stranded in Mexico City
Rajoub attended the opening match between Mexico and South Africa, which took place in Mexico, one of the tournament’s three co-host nations alongside the US and Canada. But that’s where his World Cup journey appears to have hit a wall.
As of mid-June 2026, Rajoub remains in Mexico City, unable to cross into the United States for subsequent World Cup events. The denial isn’t an isolated case. Accredited delegates from Somalia and Iraq have reportedly faced similar barriers to entry, suggesting this is less about one individual and more about a systemic approach to visa approvals during the tournament.
