Switzerland have travelled to the 2026 World Cup without forward Breel Embolo after his ESTA was placed under review.
Murat Yakin’s side departed for the United States on Tuesday, but they did so without Embolo after learning that his ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) was no longer approved.
“Unfortunately, Breel Embolo is currently unable to travel to the United States with the team,” the Swiss Football Association said in a statement.
“His ESTA authorisation had been approved until this morning. However, at 10:30am, we were informed that his ESTA application had been placed under further review.
“We are currently in contact with the relevant authorities and expect that Breel will either join the team later today or travel tomorrow and join the squad then.”
The ESTA is an automated system that determines if a foreign visitor can enter the US without a traditional visa.
Embolo’s ESTA review is linked to a ruling by a Swiss court over an altercation involving the 29-year-old in Basel in 2018.
He was convicted of making multiple threats and issued with a suspended fine in the 2023 verdict, which was upheld on appeal. Embolo elected not to take the case to federal court.
Embolo was permitted to enter America in June last year against the US and Mexico.
The Rennes forward, who has previously had spells with Schalke, Borussia Monchengladbach and Monaco, has been capped 85 times by Switzerland, scoring 23 goals. He appeared at both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
A post on the Switzerland team’s Instagram account on Tuesday featured a picture of the squad on their flight to the US, with the caption reading: “One seat empty, but not for long. See you soon Breel Embolo.”
Switzerland have been drawn in Group B and will be the heavy favourites to win the group. They face Qatar in their opening fixture in the San Francisco Bay Area on June 13. They will then meet Bosnia-Herzegovina in Los Angeles before taking on co-hosts Canada in Vancouver.
