Former Spanish World Cup winner Joan Capdevila has publicly requested assistance from U.S. President Donald Trump after being denied entry to the United States for this year’s World Cup final. The match, scheduled for Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will feature Spain against Argentina.

Capdevila, who was part of Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning team and played every minute of that tournament, shared his frustration on the social media platform X. He revealed that his Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) had been refused, preventing him and his children from attending the final. “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,” he wrote.

The former defender emphasized his eagerness to support Spain’s team alongside his former teammates and expressed disbelief at being barred entry. He also reached out to the Spanish Ministry of Sport and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in subsequent posts, asking if anyone could help resolve the issue.

ESTA is a travel authorization required for citizens of certain countries to enter the United States without a visa, and denials can occur for various reasons related to security and immigration regulations. The circumstances surrounding Capdevila’s denial have not been publicly disclosed by U.S. authorities.

Capdevila’s request garnered attention amid the global spotlight on the tournament, highlighting the complexities that can arise even for high-profile figures attending major international events. It remains unclear whether the situation will be resolved in time for him and his family to attend the final.