Spain legend Joan Capdevila has made a direct appeal to Donald Trump after revealing a visa issue could stop him from attending the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
Capdevila, who was part of Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning side, said he was surprised to learn his travel authorization had been refused just as he was preparing to fly to the United States for the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday, July 19.
The former left-back said the problem appears to stem from a trip he made to Iran in 2016, when he took part in an exhibition match involving former La Liga players. Under U.S. Visa Waiver Program rules, travelers who have been in Iran on or after March 1, 2011, are generally not eligible for ESTA and must instead apply for a visa before traveling to the United States.
That means a routine short trip can become a major obstacle for travelers heading to America, even when they are travelling for a high-profile sporting event.
The 48-year-old tagged Trump directly in a post on X, writing: “I NEED HELP @realDonaldTrump!”
He said his Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) request had been denied, and he also sought assistance from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Spain’s ministry of sport.
Spain lifted the trophy 16 years ago after beating the Netherlands in the final.
🚨 ¡NECESITO AYUDA @realDonaldTrump ! 🙏
Me acaban de decir que no puedo viajar a la final con mis hijos porque me han denegado el ESTA 😭
¿Alguien me puede ayudar con esto? No sabéis la ilusión que me hacía poder estar allí con todos mis compañeros de 2010 y con este equipo… pic.twitter.com/VH9wakzaH1
— Joan Capdevila (@capde11) July 17, 2026
For professional footballers and former internationals, cross-border travel is usually a routine part of the job, but U.S. entry rules can still cause problems for anyone whose travel history falls within ESTA’s restrictions.
Under current U.S. travel waiver rules, people who have visited Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011, and some dual nationals of listed countries, are generally not eligible to use ESTA and must seek a visa instead.
Capdevila’s translated tweet read in full: ” I NEED HELP @realDonaldTrump! They just told me that I can’t travel to the final with my kids because my ESTA has been denied Can anyone help me with this? You have no idea how excited I was to be there with all my 2010 teammates and this team to cheer them on. I can’t believe they’re not letting me into the USA… and that I’ll miss a moment like this with my kids who love soccer so much… @educaciongob If anyone knows how to fix this, I’ll be grateful to you for life.”