Spain World Cup champ Capdevila gets into U.S. for final

Former Spain defender Joan Capdevila has successfully arrived in the United States to witness the World Cup final, overcoming a travel restriction that had been in place since he played in an exhibition match in Iran a decade ago.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, they received and reviewed a request for Capdevila’s entry into the country. He touched down in the U.S. on Sunday.

Capdevila’s Journey

In a social media post, Capdevila directly addressed former President Donald Trump, revealing that his request for visa-free entry had been denied. He also mentioned U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and tagged the Spanish government’s sports ministry.

Capdevila was a key player in 2010 when Spain secured its only World Cup title, making a significant contribution by starting in the final against the Netherlands. He was also part of Spain’s victorious squad in the 2008 European Championship.

World Cup Final Preview

This Sunday, Spain faces off against Argentina at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with Capdevila’s compatriots aiming for their second World Cup title. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi and Argentina are looking to defend their championship, which would mark their fourth victory at FIFA’s premier tournament.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.