Joan Capdevila, a member of Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning squad, has made a public appeal to US President Donald Trump after being denied an ESTA authorisation to enter the United States ahead of Sunday's World Cup final.

The 48-year-old retired full-back had planned to travel with his children to the MetLife Stadium to watch Spain face Argentina — a chance to reunite with his former team-mates from their historic triumph in South Africa fifteen years ago.

"I NEED HELP @realDonaldTrump!" Capdevila wrote on X on Friday. "They just told me that I can't travel to the final with my kids because my ESTA has been denied."

The former Villarreal and Deportivo defender extended his plea further: "You have no idea how excited I was to be there with all my 2010 team-mates and this team to cheer them on. I can't believe they're not letting me into the USA — 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 grateful to you for life."

In addition to addressing Trump, Capdevila also called on US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for assistance and tagged Spain's ministry of sport in his posts.

A 2016 match in Iran at the centre of the dispute

Speaking to Spanish radio station COPE, Capdevila said he believes the visa denial stems from a match he played in Iran in 2016, when he featured in a team of La Liga legends that faced an Iranian all-star side in Tehran.

BBC Sport has contacted the White House for comment.

Not the first high-profile case

Capdevila is not alone in facing entry difficulties. Somali referee Omar Artan was removed from the tournament's officiating panel after US authorities denied him entry when he arrived at Miami International Airport on 8 June. Officials cited his "association with suspected members of terror organisations" as the reason for the refusal. Artan had been named the 2025 Confederation of African Football (Caf) men's referee of the year.

Sunday's historic final

The MetLife Stadium final will mark the first time Spain and Argentina have met in a World Cup final — a clash between the reigning European champions and the Copa America holders.

Spain, known as La Roja, earned their place in only a second-ever World Cup final with a commanding 2-0 victory over France in Dallas on Tuesday.

Argentina, three-time world champions and the defending title holders, secured back-to-back final appearances after a dramatic late comeback defeated England 2-1 on Wednesday.