José Andrés pleads with Trump to help Capdevila attend World Cup final

Former Spain defender Joan Capdevila, a 2010 World Cup winner, has been denied entry to the United States to attend Sunday's final between Spain and Argentina in New York. Capdevila's ESTA authorization was rejected, reportedly because he played a charity match in Iran in 2016 Source: El Mundo. He publicly appealed to President Donald Trump for help, writing "¡NECESITO AYUDA @realDonaldTrump!" on X Source: ABC.

Chef José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen, also intervened, tweeting directly to Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and FIFA: "¿Pueden ayudar a @capde11, un campeón del Mundo, a llegar a la Final, por favor? ¡Gracias!" Source: La Vanguardia. Capdevila responded: "No sabes cuánto te lo agradezco..." Source: Infobae.

Why the denial?

Capdevila explained in an interview that his denial stems from a charity match he played in Iran around 2016 as part of a LaLiga Legends team Source: El Español. U.S. visa waiver rules restrict entry via ESTA for anyone who has visited Iran after March 1, 2011, and such travelers must apply for a regular visa Source: Listín Diario.

What's at stake

Spain faces defending champion Argentina at MetLife Stadium as it seeks its second World Cup trophy. Capdevila was invited by the Spanish federation to join other 2010 heroes in the stands Source: La Vanguardia. Without a last-minute intervention, he will watch from home with his children.