Swiss international Breel Embolo was unable to travel to the United States with his World Cup squad on Tuesday morning after his electronic travel authorisation (Esta) was unexpectedly placed under review. The Swiss football federation confirmed the delay, stating they are in contact with authorities and anticipate he will join the team either later today or tomorrow.
Switzerland's Travel Woes
The unexpected Esta review has caused a last-minute disruption for the Swiss team as they prepare for the World Cup. Embolo, a key player for Switzerland, was set to travel with his teammates but was held back due to the administrative issue. The federation is working closely with US authorities to resolve the matter swiftly.
South Africa's Visa Debacle
Separately, South Africa's World Cup squad experienced significant delays to their flight to the US due to unresolved travel visa issues. The team eventually departed on Monday after the problems were sorted out. South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie criticised the visa situation as an "embarrassing" administrative error by team officials, demanding a report from the South African Football Association (SAFA).
SAFA apologised for the disruption, acknowledging assistance from the South African Foreign Ministry and the US Consulate in Johannesburg to resolve the issues. This incident follows previous scrutiny over the team's management and readiness for the tournament.
Both Switzerland and South Africa are now hoping to have their squads fully assembled in the US in time for their World Cup fixtures.
