Swiss striker Breel Embolo was unable to fly to the United States with his teammates ahead of the 2026 World Cup after his Electronic Travel Authorization (ESTA) was placed under review.
The Swiss Football Federation announced that Embolo's ESTA had been approved until the morning of his departure, but by 10:30 a.m. local time, they were informed that his application had been flagged for further review. The federation said it is in contact with relevant authorities and hopes Embolo will be able to enter the country later that day or the following day.
Switzerland’s squad flew from Zurich to Los Angeles on Tuesday (June 10) before traveling onward to San Diego for a training camp. Their opening Group B match against Qatar is scheduled for June 13 in San Francisco.
The incident stems from a final ruling by a Swiss court nine months ago. Embolo, who now plays for Stade Rennais, was found guilty of making multiple threats in 2023 related to a 2018 altercation in Basel and received a suspended fine. The verdict was upheld on appeal. According to Swiss media, Embolo decided not to appeal to the Federal Court, making the ruling final.
ESTA is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. Embolo remains Switzerland’s leading striker, with 24 goals in 86 international appearances.
