Switzerland forward Breel Embolo is still waiting for a visa to enter the United States ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
The Swiss Football Association said Embolo attended an appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Bern on Wednesday and submitted a visa application. The process is now being handled as a priority.
Embolo was unable to travel with the rest of the Switzerland squad to California on Tuesday. His ESTA travel authorisation came under further review just hours before the team departed for Los Angeles.
The federation said both the player and the team are now waiting for approval so that Embolo can fly to San Diego and join the squad as soon as possible.
The delay is linked to a legal case from an incident in Basel in 2018. In 2023, the Stade Rennais striker was found guilty of making several threats and received a suspended fine. The ruling was later upheld on appeal.
According to the federation, U.S. authorities requested court documents related to the case after learning that the verdict became legally final earlier this year.
The federation added that embassy officials wanted to know whether the case involved any physical violence. It said no physical violence was involved.
Swiss officials also revealed that Embolo’s ESTA application had initially been approved. However, U.S. authorities asked for additional checks around two and a half hours before the team’s departure.
Lauren Bis, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said all ESTA applications are continuously checked against law enforcement and security databases.
She said travellers must provide complete and truthful information, including details of any criminal history. She added that failure to disclose arrests or convictions can lead to an ESTA being denied, revoked, or result in a permanent ban from entering the country.
Bis also noted that an approved ESTA does not guarantee entry into the United States. Travellers who are not eligible under the Visa Waiver Program must apply for a visa instead.
A spokesperson for the Swiss team said Embolo travelled to the United States without any issues in June 2025 when Switzerland played matches against Mexico and the United States.
Switzerland are in Group B of the World Cup alongside Canada, Bosnia and Qatar. Their first match is against Qatar on June 13 in San Francisco.
