Jibril Rajoub, chairman of the Palestinian Football Association, said he was denied entry visas to the United States and Canada to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Rajoub argued that visa issuance for World Cup participants is a right enshrined in FIFA rules, according to a statement he released.
Jibril Rajoub, the chairman of the Palestinian Football Association, stated on Sunday that he was denied entry visas to the United States and Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Rajoub, a senior Fatah figure with a history of inflammatory rhetoric against Israel, argued that the denial violates FIFA regulations, which he said guarantee visa issuance for tournament participants. The claim is unverified by US or Canadian officials, and no official reason for the denial has been provided.
The incident follows a series of US visa denials related to the 2026 World Cup. As The Zioneer reported, US authorities denied entry to Somali football referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan earlier this month. The White House defended that decision by stating that some individuals were denied entry because they were 'linked to terrorist organizations' — though no specific allegation has been publicly made against Rajoub. Rajoub was convicted by an Israeli military court in 2010 for involvement in terrorism-related activities, including funneling funds to Hamas, and has repeatedly refused to shake hands with Israeli FIFA officials.
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