Switzerland star blocked from travelling to US with World Cup squad after last-minute Esta issue
Switzerland international Breel Embolo will not travel to the United States with his World Cup squad teammates after his electronic travel authorisation (Esta) was placed under review.
The Swiss football federation confirmed the striker would not join the team’s flight on Tuesday.
“Unfortunately, Breel Embolo is currently unable to travel to the United States with the team,” the federation stated.
They explained his Esta had been approved until Tuesday morning, but at 10:30am, it was “placed under further review.”
The federation remains hopeful: “We are currently in contact with the relevant authorities and expect that Breel will either join the team later today or travel tomorrow and join the squad then.”
A team spokesperson, boarding their flight to Los Angeles, noted Embolo had previously been granted US entry for matches.
Switzerland are preparing for the World Cup, and are set to play in Group B against co-hosts Canada, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Qatar.
Their opening match will see them face Canada in Toronto on 12 June.
Embolo is not the only player that has encountered travel issues ahead of the World Cup.
South Africa’s squad delayed their flight to the US on Sunday due to unresolved travel visa issues before eventually departing on Monday.
The Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, took to X to describe the visa “debacle” as an “embarrassing” administrative error on the part of team officials, demanding a report from the South African Football Association (SAFA).
The association, which held an emergency meeting on Sunday night, apologised for the disruption and acknowledged receiving assistance from the South African Foreign Ministry and the US Consulate in Johannesburg to resolve the problems.
This incident follows previous scrutiny of the team’s management during World Cup qualifying, when midfielder Teboho Mokoena played a match against Lesotho despite being suspended.
Although South Africa was subsequently stripped of its victory, the team ultimately qualified for the tournament by topping their group.
South Africa will participate in the World Cup for the first time since hosting the event in 2010. They are scheduled to face co-hosts Mexico in the opening game on 11 June in Mexico City, before playing the Czech Republic in Atlanta and South Korea in Monterrey, Mexico, as part of Group A.
