Switzerland fly to USA without Embolo as ESTA review delays striker's World Cup arrival

Switzerland arrived in the United States for the 2026 World Cup without Breel Embolo after the striker’s Electronic System for Travel Authorisation was placed under further review on Tuesday morning, hours after it had been approved. The Swiss Football Association issued a statement confirming the situation and said they expect Embolo to join the squad in Los Angeles either later on Tuesday or on Wednesday.

Embolo, 29, holds 86 caps for Switzerland and is the country’s current top goalscorer following Haris Seferovic’s international retirement three years ago. He is also the ninth-highest scorer in Swiss football history and was named one of the team’s five captains for the tournament.

In their statement, the Swiss FA explained: “Unfortunately, Breel Embolo is currently unable to travel to the United States with the team. His ESTA authorisation had been approved until this morning. However, at 10:30 a.m., 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 (Tuesday) or travel tomorrow (Wednesday) and join the squad then.”

The ESTA is the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation that governs entry to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. The review of Embolo’s application appears linked to a 2023 Swiss court conviction in which he was found guilty of making multiple threats during an altercation five years earlier. His sentence was a suspended fine. An appeal was rejected, and Swiss media reported in April that Embolo chose not to escalate the case to the Federal Court, making the judgment final.

Embolo had previously played in the United States twice for Switzerland during friendlies against Mexico and the US in Salt Lake City and Nashville last summer, though both matches appear to have taken place before the verdict became legally final.

Switzerland face Australia in a final pre-tournament friendly in San Diego on Saturday before their World Cup campaign opens against Qatar in Santa Clara. Two of their three group-stage matches are on American soil — the Qatar fixture in Santa Clara and a game against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Inglewood. Their third group match is against co-hosts Canada in Vancouver, where an Electronic Travel Authorisation rather than an ESTA is required.