“His ESTA authorization was valid until this morning. At 10:30 am, we were notified that his application was now under further review.”
The forward, who plays for French club Stade Rennais, has encountered legal issues before. In 2023, a Swiss court found him guilty of making threats against a person when he was 21. An appeal was rejected last September.
Despite this, he traveled to the U.S. after the conviction, even scoring a goal when Switzerland defeated the U.S. men’s national team 4-0 in June 2025 in Tennessee.
Swiss media stated that the application had been approved before being reviewed. Other reports indicated Embolo, 29, was waiting tensely at the team’s airport hotel in Zurich, signing autographs before the flight.
The ESTA situation may cause concerns for other players, staff, and supporters with criminal backgrounds regarding their U.S. entry. The U.S. is co-hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico.
Iran’s team is encountering logistical issues, including visa approvals for its players and staff, and has moved its training base to Mexico although all its matches are in the U.S.
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