Switzerland forward Breel Embolo was delayed flying to the United States on Tuesday for the World Cup 2026 because his travel documents were placed under review by U.S. authorities.
The Swiss squad was scheduled to fly from Zurich around lunchtime local time on Tuesday to Los Angeles, before heading to their official World Cup training camp in San Diego.
“Unfortunately, Breel Embolo is currently unable to travel to the United States with the team,” the Swiss Football Association announced in an official statement, explaining that his ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) was no longer approved.
The federation added without further elaboration: “However, at 10:30 a.m., we were informed that his ESTA application had been placed under further review.”
Legal Background and Past Controversies
It remains unclear why U.S. authorities have concerns regarding the 29-year-old striker. However, Embolo has had previous brushes with the law in both Germany and Switzerland during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, he was disciplined by his former club, Borussia Mönchengladbach, for attending a party during a strict lockdown. Later in 2024, his name was linked to a criminal case in Basel involving the purchase of forged COVID-19 test certificates dating back to 2021.
Despite these past incidents, Embolo had traveled to the U.S. just a year ago with the Swiss national team for international friendlies. During that tour, Switzerland secured a 4-2 win against Mexico in Salt Lake City and dominated the USMNT with a 4-0 victory in Nashville.
Key Player for Switzerland National Team
This tournament marks the third World Cup where Embolo is set to serve as Switzerland’s first-choice striker. The prolific forward boasts an impressive international record, scoring 24 goals in 86 caps for his country.
