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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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Former Spain defender Joan Capdevila has arrived in the United States after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reviewed his case and admitted him into the country. This followed an earlier ESTA ineligibility that had threatened to keep him from attending the FIFA World Cup final, the Trump administration said Sunday.
Capdevila, a member of Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning team, said Friday that his application for travel authorization under the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) program had been denied, preventing him from attending today's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina with his children.
A CBP spokesperson told Newsweek: "On July 18, 2026 CBP received a request to allow Mr. Capdevila Mendez’s admission to the U.S. due to an ESTA ineligibility. CBP reviewed the request and on July 19, 2026 Mr. Capdevila Mendez arrived in the United States. He was processed at JFK in accordance with all applicable laws and admitted into the United States."
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In a July 17 post on X, Capdevila tagged Trump with a praying emoji appealing for assistance.
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"They just told me that I can't travel to the final with my kids because my ESTA has been denied," Capdevila wrote.
He added he had been looking forward to attending the match with his former teammates from Spain's 2010 title-winning squad and watching the game with his children.
"You have no idea how excited I would be 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," Capdevila said on X.
Former Spain Defender Granted Entry Waiver
The New York Post reported Sunday that Capdevila had been granted a waiver to enter the United States after officials previously denied his request for visa-free travel, citing sources familiar with the matter. According to the report, the World Cup winner was expected to arrive in New York on Sunday morning in time for the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, although it was not immediately clear who authorized the reversal.
Spanish broadcaster laSexta also reported that Capdevila would ultimately be allowed to travel to the United States to attend the final after initially being denied ESTA authorization.
Former Spain player Marcos Senna appeared to add weight to reports that Capdevila's travel issues had been resolved, sharing a photo on Sunday morning showing the pair preparing to board a plane ahead of the World Cup final.
It was not immediately clear where the aircraft pictured by Senna was headed. However, flight-tracking website FlightAware showed a Wamos Air flight departing Madrid at 7:28 a.m. local time on Sunday and scheduled to arrive at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport at 8:49 a.m. EDT.
The Spain Legends' official X account posted on Sunday that Capdevila and Senna were "traveling to New York" to support Spain in the World Cup final.
Speaking to Spanish media, Capdevila said he believed his visa issue stemmed from his participation in a 2016 exhibition match in Iran.
Capdevila told Spanish television program laSexta Xplica that he believed his ESTA application had been denied because he played in a LaLiga legends match in Iran around a decade ago.
ESTA is an online travel authorization that allows eligible travelers to visit the United States for up to 90 days without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program. Approval is required before travel, but it does not guarantee admission to the United States.
Visa Restrictions Draw Scrutiny
The incident comes amid scrutiny of U.S. visa and entry policies under the Trump administration. Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was selected to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, was denied entry to the United States after arriving in Miami, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection citing "vetting concerns." Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said he was relieved after Iran’s national team was eliminated from the tournament and left the United States, amid disputes over the team’s travel arrangements and visa restrictions.
Capdevila told laSexta Xplica that his appeal to Trump had been "desperate." He said attending the final had been especially important because he wanted to share the experience with his children and tell them about Spain's 2010 World Cup victory in South Africa.
Spain defeated the Netherlands 1-0 after extra time in the final. Andrés Iniesta scored the decisive goal in the 116th minute to secure Spain’s first World Cup title.
Capdevila later said that despite receiving support from several people, including celebrity chef José Andrés, resolving the issue in time had proved difficult.
The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina is set to take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, as the jointly hosted tournament across the United States, Mexico and Canada comes to a close.
Update 7/19/26, 11:47 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with a new headline and comment from a CBP spokesperson.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Tobias Meyjes and Tony Phillips
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