Joan Capdevila won a World Cup with Spain in 2010. Sixteen years later, he can’t get into the country hosting the next one.
The former Spanish left-back posted a public plea to US President Donald Trump on July 17, 2026, after his ESTA application was denied, leaving him unable to travel to the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. The match is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Capdevila had planned to attend with his children to watch the Spanish national team.
What happened with Capdevila’s ESTA
The ESTA, or Electronic System for Travel Authorization, is the standard pre-clearance mechanism for travelers from visa-waiver countries entering the US. It is not a visa, but a denial effectively functions like one: no ESTA approval, no boarding.
Capdevila, who was born February 3, 1978, and is 48 years old, posted on X calling for Trump’s help after the authorization did not come through. The story was picked up by BBC Sport and USA Today within hours of his post going live. A World Cup winner reduced to tweeting at the White House is the kind of image that tends to travel.
