Rob is senior football editor at GiveMeSport, with over 15 years experience covering sport in various capacities since graduating from the University of Gloucestershire in 2008 with a degree in journalism. A childhood obsession for all things football developed into a career writing about the beautiful game, initially producing content for clients including Luton Town Football Club and the PGMOL. His first big interviews were with Premier League referees Howard Webb and Michael Oliver in 2009. He then spent four years producing written content for a betting website, mainly focusing on football, and was there to cover various games and tournaments including the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. Rob joined GiveMeSport in 2013 (initially as a sub-editor before becoming a senior writer and then senior editor in 2020) and has covered countless football matches and other sporting events, interviewed various high-profile figures including Rio Ferdinand, Peter Crouch and Theo Walcott, and written well over 10,000 articles during that time. Rob has played a key role in GiveMeSport's coverage of the World Cups in 2014, 2018 and 2022, plus Euro 2016, Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, along with many Champions League finals. While football is Rob's area of expertise, he has also covered a wide range of other sports during his time at GiveMeSport including boxing, tennis and darts, as well as the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games.
A member of Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning squad has called on US President Donald Trump to intervene after being barred from the USA ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final.
Joan Capdevila is a former left-back who was capped 60 times by Spain between 2002-2011. He was part of the Spanish squads that won Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup.
The 48-year-old played for several top Spanish clubs including Atletico Madrid, Deportivo La Corona and Villarreal.
Capdevila Begs Trump to Help Over ESTA Issue
However, his status as a World Cup winner hasn’t prevented him from being denied entry to the United States for the biggest match of the year between Spain and Argentina.
The retired full-back tweeted: "I NEED HELP @realDonaldTrump. They just told me that I can't travel to the final with my kids because my ESTA has been denied.
"Can anyone help me with this? You have no idea how excited I was to be there with all my teammates from 2010 and this team to cheer them on. I can’t believe they won’t let me enter the U.S. ... and that I’ll miss a moment like this with my kids, who love soccer so much... If anyone knows how to fix this, I’ll be eternally grateful.”
Capdevila Reveals Why He's Been Barred From US
In an interview with Spanish radio station COPE, per USA Today , Capdevila said he’s been denied an ESTA because he played a match in Iran 10 years ago.
Back in 2016, a team of La Liga legends - featuring the likes of Fernando Morientes, Marcos Senna and Capdevila - traveled to Tehran to face a team of all-stars.
It seems Capdevila’s brief appearance in Iran a decade ago has cost him the chance to be at the 2026 World Cup final at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
Headlines were made at the start of the tournament when Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States and subsequently missed the World Cup.
There were also numerous incidents of fans being denied ESTAs despite spending thousands of pounds on tickets, travel and accommodation.
However, Capdevila is the most notable former professional who has been unable to enter the USA for this summer’s showpiece international tournament.
Tracking the leading contenders to win the prestigious Ballon d'Or award in 2026.
The former defender now looks set to miss Spain’s second appearance in a World Cup final, 16 years after winning football’s most prestigious trophy for the first time in South Africa.
Spain head into Sunday’s final as narrow favourites following their impressive 2-0 victory over the much-fancied France in the semi-finals
However, they face a fiercely-passionate Argentina side who are determined to retain the World Cup trophy, with the peerless Lionel Messi in scintillating form despite the fact he recently celebrated his 39th birthday.
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