Breel Embolo’s Travel Delay
Breel Embolo, the Swiss striker, faced a delay in his journey to the United States for the upcoming World Cup due to an issue with his travel authorization. The Swiss Football Association announced that his ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) status was under scrutiny, resulting in his inability to fly with the rest of the team on Tuesday morning.
Team Departure and Background
The Swiss national team was scheduled to depart from Zurich to Los Angeles before heading to a training camp in San Diego in preparation for the World Cup. This tournament marks the third occasion that Embolo is expected to lead as Switzerland’s primary striker, following his impressive record of 24 goals across 86 international appearances.
Details of the ESTA Review
At 10:30 a.m. on the day of departure, the soccer federation received news that Embolo’s ESTA application required further examination. Details surrounding the reason for the additional review remain ambiguous, particularly considering Embolo’s previous issues with authorities in Germany and Switzerland during the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, in 2021, while playing for Borussia Mönchengladbach, he faced disciplinary action for attending a party that violated lockdown restrictions. Furthermore, he was embroiled in a legal matter in Basel related to purchasing fake COVID-19 test certificates in 2021.
Previous U.S. Travel
Interestingly, the 29-year-old player had successfully traveled to the U.S. just last year, participating in friendly matches against World Cup co-hosts Mexico and the U.S. during which Switzerland achieved notable victories, beating Mexico 4-2 and the U.S. 4-0.
Future Prospects
In light of the current situation, the Swiss Football Association stated that they are in communication with appropriate authorities and remain hopeful that Embolo will be able to join his teammates either later on Tuesday or the following day. Switzerland’s chances of advancing from a World Cup group consisting of Canada, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Qatar appear promising as they prepare for the competition.
