Joan Capdevila, a key player from Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning squad, has publicly appealed to President Donald Trump after his Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) was denied, preventing him from attending Sunday's World Cup final in the United States.
Capdevila, 48, expressed his disappointment in a translated post on X, formerly Twitter. "I NEED HELP @realDonaldTrump," he wrote. "They just told me that I can't travel to the final with my kids because my ESTA has been denied."
He added, "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."
Capdevila suggested that his travel ban may stem from a 2016 match he participated in while playing alongside other La Liga legends in Iran. Under current U.S. travel regulations, individuals who have traveled to Iran since March 1, 2011, are generally ineligible for the ESTA program and must obtain a visa prior to traveling to the United States.
Capdevila was a starting player in all seven of Spain's matches during their historic 2010 World Cup campaign. He remains notable as the only member of Spain's starting lineup for the final who did not play for either Real Madrid or Barcelona.
His situation arises amid strained diplomatic relations between the United States and Spain. President Trump has previously expressed dissatisfaction with Spain's refusal to support U.S. military actions against Iran, threatening trade repercussions. Spain, in turn, has maintained that its trade relations are governed by European Union agreements.
Despite the diplomatic tensions, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is expected to attend the final, which will take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Argentina's President Javier Milei is reportedly opting to watch from his presidential residence due to superstitions.