FIFA World Cup 2026: Switzerland star Embolo denied US entry ahead of tournament

Switzerland’s FIFA World Cup 2026 preparations have suffered an unexpected setback after star forward Breel Embolo was unable to travel with the squad to the United States due to issues surrounding his travel authorisation.

The Swiss team departed for Los Angeles on Tuesday ahead of their opening matches in the tournament, but Embolo was forced to stay behind after being denied permission to board the flight. According to reports, the striker’s ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) status was placed under review by US authorities, preventing his immediate entry into the country.

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The issue is reportedly linked to a previous legal case involving Embolo. The 29-year-old was convicted in 2023 in connection with threats made during an altercation dating back to 2018 and received a suspended fine. His appeal against the conviction was later unsuccessful.

The Swiss Football Association confirmed the development and said it is actively working with the relevant authorities to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.

“Unfortunately, Breel Embolo is currently unable to travel to the United States with the team. His ESTA authorisation had been approved until this morning. However, at 10:30 a.m., we were informed that his ESTA application had been placed under further review,” the federation said in a statement.

Despite the setback, Switzerland remain optimistic that the experienced striker will be cleared to join the squad in the coming days.

“We are currently in contact with the relevant authorities and expect that Breel will either join the team later today or travel tomorrow and join the squad then,” the statement added.

Embolo is a key figure in Murat Yakin’s squad and has scored 23 goals in 85 appearances for Switzerland since making his senior debut in 2015. Born in Cameroon before moving to Switzerland as a child, he has represented the European nation at every major international tournament over the past decade, including the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups and three UEFA European Championships.

One of his most memorable moments came at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar when he scored the winning goal against Cameroon, becoming only the second player in tournament history to score against the country of his birth.

The striker heads into the World Cup in good form after opening the scoring in Switzerland’s 4-1 friendly victory over Jordan in St. Gallen on Sunday.

Switzerland are scheduled to begin their World Cup campaign against Qatar in San Francisco on June 13 before facing Bosnia and Herzegovina in Los Angeles and co-hosts Canada in Vancouver. Having reached the knockout stage at each of the last three World Cups, the Swiss will be hoping Embolo’s travel issues are resolved in time for the crucial Group B fixtures.