The head of the Palestinian Football Association (PFA), Jibril Rajoub, is currently in Mexico City, awaiting permission to enter the United States for events related to the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
Despite being accredited, Mr Rajoub is among several international football officials who have been denied US visas or are still awaiting their approval.
Mr Rajoub attended the opening match between Mexico and South Africa on Thursday.
He expressed his frustration to The Associated Press, stating: “I don’t believe that it’s fair to use or to abuse and deny the right of all footballers all over the world to attend.”
While the Palestinian team did not qualify for the World Cup, Fifa traditionally extends invitations to the heads of football associations globally, framing the quadrennial event as a celebration of international unity.
Fifa President Gianni Infantino previously declared last year that “everyone will be welcome in Canada, Mexico and the United States for the Fifa World Cup next year. We are working exactly for that.”
However, the United States has refused entry to delegates from various nations, including a referee from Somalia and a photographer travelling with Iraq’s team.
Mr Infantino acknowledged this week that Fifa had attempted to resolve the visa issues but conceded it could not override the US government.
“We need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces,” he told reporters.
The US State Department has not commented on Mr Rajoub’s visa status. Last year, it implemented new restrictions on Palestinian passport holders, particularly those employed by the Palestinian Authority, and notably revoked a visa for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to attend the United Nations General Assembly last September.
Mr Rajoub and other Palestinian football officials have consistently argued that Israel violates statutes by permitting teams from settlements in the occupied West Bank to play in its national league.
They have urged Fifa to sanction Israel, citing restrictions on Palestinian players’ movement and the extensive damage to sports facilities in the Gaza Strip, where 80 per cent have been destroyed and at least 565 players killed, according to the association.
Last month, Mr Rajoub notably refused to shake hands with the head of Israel’s football federation at Mr Infantino’s request, asserting that such a gesture would not heal wounds but instead “whitewash Israel’s actions.”
He also highlighted that Russia, when hosting the 2018 World Cup, did not impose comparable visa restrictions on invited attendees.
